US Bone and Joint Decade organizations, including the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), have published an update on The Burden of Musculoskeletal Disease in the United States . These organizations have collaborated to tabulate recent data on the burden of musculoskeletal diseases to educate health care professionals, policy makers, and the public.

The preface to the report was written by NIAMS Director Stephen I. Katz, M.D., Ph.D. "Although many advances have been made, musculoskeletal conditions remain common, chronic, and costly," according to Dr. Katz's preface. "This publication examines such public health issues as spinal problems, arthritis and joint pain, osteoporosis, injuries, congenital conditions, neoplasms, and health care utilization and costs."

The Bone and Joint Decade is an international collaborative movement sanctioned by the United Nations World Health Organization. The Decade was officially proclaimed in the United States by the President for 2002-2011. Participating organizations of the Bone and Joint Decade are engaged in developing new research and education programs that will bring about significant advances in the knowledge, diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal conditions, and increase the number of resources at the disposal of the healthcare professions and the public at large.

The entire report is available electronically at http://www.boneandjointburden.org.

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