The goals of the Bone and Joint Decade are:

to increase awareness  of  the  growing 
    burden of musculoskeletal disorders on 
    the society
to promote  the  prevention  and care of 
    musculoskeletal disorders by means of 
    research
to facilitate active participation of people 
    suffering from the disorders in decisions 
    concerning their own care
to enhance knowledge  about  musculo-
    skeletal disorders

A  starting  point  for  the Bone  and  Joint Decade  is  that  all  prevention,  care and rehabilitation    should    be    based    on scientifically   proven   methods   i.e.   on empirical evidence. 

Research   resources   of   musculoskeletal disorders  must  be  increased  to determine which  care  and  rehabilitation  methods   of musculoskeletal  disorders are most effective and economical from the standpoint of overall costs. 

The   use   of   most   up-to-date   research knowledge is encouraged, so that decision-
makers  and  health care  professional  can 
have   access  to  it   when   planning   and developing services.

Due  to   their   major  national   health  and economy impact musculoskeletal disorders should  be   better   taken  into  account  in decision-making.  On  the  level of individual people  the  essential  thing is  the nature of people's decisions about their own health.