For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
March 25, 2002
National Bone and Joint Decade Proclamation
National Bone and Joint Decade, 2002-2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Living a life free from daily bone pain or joint discomfort is
something most people take for granted. Our bones, joints,
and connective tissues are the structure upon which all other systems
of the body depend. They give us strength, mobility, protection, and
stability. And they permit us to perform a great variety of
physical activities that shape our daily lives.
Our musculoskeletal structure is a complex system of tissue and
bone that is regularly subjected to trauma, metabolic and genetic
processes, and the gradual wear and tear of an active
life. When these bones and tissues become damaged or
diseased, they can create chronic conditions that may seriously impede
and sometimes permanently affect one's health and well-being.
In the United States, musculoskeletal disorders are a leading cause
of physical disability. Conditions such as osteoporosis,
osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, back pain, spinal disorders, and
fractures, also affect hundreds of millions of people around the
world. And many children suffer from crippling bone and
joint diseases and deformities, impeding normal development and
preventing them from experiencing a full and healthy life.
The incidence of musculoskeletal conditions will increase as the
average age of our population increases. And our culture's
increasing emphasis on physical activity, while important to society's
overall well-being, will also increase the stress factors on bones and
joints. Ensuing disorders, if left untreated, could result in
significant pain and suffering that would affect employment,
well-being, and healthcare costs.
National Bone and Joint Decade, 2002-2011, envisions a series of
international initiatives among physicians, health professionals,
patients, and communities, working together to raise awareness about
musculoskeletal disorders and promoting research and development into
therapies, preventative measures, and cures for these
disorders. Advances in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment,
and research of musculoskeletal conditions will greatly enhance the
quality of life of our aging population.
The National Institutes of Health, the National Institute of
Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, and other Federal
agencies support many bone and joint studies. Industry and
private professional and voluntary agencies support other
initiatives. This work involves scientists examining the
possible genetic causes of bone and joint diseases and studying how
hormones, growth factors, and drugs regulate the skeleton. Other
researchers are studying bone density, quality, and metabolism, and
other ways to increase the longevity of joint replacements for those
whose daily activities have become painful, difficult, or even
impossible. These research efforts can help relieve pain and suffering
and give countless children and adults the opportunity for a better
life.
Thanks to the hard work of these dedicated researchers, we have
made great progress in understanding and treating musculoskeletal
disorders. I commend their efforts and encourage them to
pursue diligently further research that will help those suffering from
these disorders. And I hope that all Americans will learn
more about musculoskeletal problems, their long- and short-term
effects, and the therapies and treatments available to help them.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States
of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution
and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim the years 2002-2011,
as National Bone and Joint Decade. I call upon the people of
the United States to observe the decade with appropriate programs and
activities; and I call upon the medical community to pursue research in
this important area.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-first
day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand two, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and
twenty-sixth.
GEORGE W. BUSH
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