National Bone and Joint Decade, 2002-2011

Proclamation 7533 of March 21, 2002

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.

(Presidential Sig.)B