Introduction

In January 2000, the Bone and Joint Decade was formally launched at the headquarters of the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. The goal was “to improve the health-related quality of life for people with musculoskeletal disorders throughout the world”. They aimed to do this, in part, by “raising awareness of the growing burden of musculoskeletal disorders on society”. The Bone and Joint Decade has 63 supporting governments, over 700 supporting government and non-government organisations and a budget in the millions. It was the largest musculoskeletal health promotion campaign in history.