Background and goals

Hundreds  of  millions of  people   worldwide suffer    from    musculoskeletal  symptoms. Awakened   by   this  fact an expert meeting held in Lund, Sweden, in 1998 proposed that a    decade   focusing   on   musculoskeletal disorders be organised during 2000 - 2010. 

The   decade   was   opened   in    Geneve  in   January   2000   with   the   name  the International  Bone and Joint   Decade.The   project  is supported by the UN, WHO, the World Bank and the Vatican.

The  focus  areas  of  the   Bone  and   Joint Decade   (BJD)   include    joint    disorders, osteoporosis,     back   disorders,    difficult musculoskeletal   trauma,   and   children's serious joint disorders. 

The international health project is in progress in   96   countries.  The   governments  of  60 countries have declared their  official  support
to   the   project,  and  a   national   operation network has been established in 60 countries to   promote   the  goals  of   the   project.  In addition,   approx.  1,200   organisations  and corporations  have  declared their participation in the promotion of the goals of the Decade.

In   Finland   the   Bone  and Joint  Decade  is steered by Tules-liiga, a co-operative body of organisations   working   with musculoskeletal disorders   established  in  1993.  The Finnish Rheumatism  Association  is  in charge of the practical    implementation.   The   project   is funded   by   RAY  (Finland’s   Slot   Machine Association).  The  national  protector  of   the Bone and Joint   Decade is Tarja Halonen, the President of the Republic.