Musculoskeletal diseases affect more than one out of every two persons in the United States age 18 and over, and nearly three out of four age 65 and over. Trauma, back pain, and arthritis are the three most common musculoskeletal conditions reported, and for which health care visits to physicians’ offices, emergency departments, and hospitals occur each year. 

The cost of treating major musculoskeletal diseases, which often includes long-term pain and disability, is also greater than for treatment of many other common health conditions. Musculoskeletal conditions can lead to significant disability plus diminished productivity and quality of life. Treatment and lost wage costs associated with musculoskeletal diseases in the U.S. alone was estimated at $874 billion in 2009 to 2011 - equal to 5.73 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). With the aging of the US population, musculoskeletal diseases are becoming a greater burden every year. SOURCE: U.S. Bone and Joint Initiative at www.boneandjointburden.org.

The Boone and Kenton County Cooperative Extension Services partnered with the U.S. Bone and Joint Initiative, a local medical equipment supply store, St. Elizabeth Healthcare, local fitness instructors, and the Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center to provide two, four-hour workshops focused on musculoskeletal health and well-being. One workshop focused on living with arthritis with topics including arthritis-friendly gadgets for the home and kitchen; food, nutrition and arthritis; Tai Chi for arthritis; and “Experts in Arthritis” presented by healthcare professionals. Topics for the second workshop, focused on bone and joint health, included fall prevention; food and nutrition for bone and joint health; moving for bone and joint health, and “Fit to a T” presented by healthcare professionals. Each session included a healthy, plant-based lunch with nutrition information presented by Boone and Kenton County Extension professionals. The workshops were offered in response to suggestions by advisory councils and demographics showing an increase in the aging population.

Ninety-seven middle-aged and older men and women attended one or both programs. Fifty-eight individuals completed and returned a survey mailed three months after the end of the last program. Of those returning the surveys, 75 percent increased their level of physical activity; 75 percent explored or adopted some principals of the Mediterranean or DASH diet; 91 percent increased their overall consumption of fruits and vegetables; and 84 percent felt more in control of factors associated with their arthritis and bone and joint issues. Fifty-three percent of attendees did an assessment of their homes to remove obstacles that might increase their risk of falling. Thirty-five individuals completed a heel scan for bone density the program and 15 talked with their healthcare provider to schedule a follow-up bone scan. Twenty percent purchased arthritis-friendly tools and gadgets for use in their homes.  One individual share “…I left feeling more educated and not alone with arthritis.”