Bone and joint week

Bone and Joint Week is a national awareness campaign that brings the MSK community together to highlight the impact of MSK conditions and the importance of prevention, timely care and rehabilitation.

Led in the UK by ARMA, the campaign provides a platform for organisations, professionals and people with lived experience to speak with one voice about the importance of MSK health.

The week forms part of wider international activity to raise awareness of bone and joint health and reflects the growing global recognition of MSK health as a major public health and economic issue.

Why Bone and Joint Week matters

MSK conditions affect over 20 million people in the UK and are a leading cause of pain, disability and reduced quality of life. They are also a major driver of work loss, health inequalities and pressure on health and care services.

Despite this, MSK health has often been under recognised in national policy and public health priorities.

Bone and Joint Week helps to:

• Raise awareness of the scale and impact of MSK conditions

• Highlight the importance of prevention and early intervention

• Promote better understanding of living well with MSK conditions

• Support recognition of MSK health as a system priority

• Strengthen the collective voice of the MSK community.

ARMA’s role

As the UK alliance for MSK health, ARMA coordinates Bone and Joint Week by bringing together members and partners to support a shared programme of activity.

Our role is to:

• Convene organisations across the MSK community

• Provide shared messaging and campaign resources

• Support members to showcase their work

• Connect awareness activity with policy priorities

• Strengthen the collective voice for MSK health.

This reflects ARMA’s wider role to convene, collaborate and campaign to improve MSK health.

Working with our members and partners

Bone and Joint Week is a collaborative campaign shaped by the organisations and communities ARMA brings together.

During the week, members and partners:

• Share insight and lived experience

• Highlight services and innovations

• Promote prevention and self-management

• Support public and professional awareness

• Contribute to national conversations about MSK health.

Together, these activities help demonstrate the breadth, expertise and impact of the MSK community.

Part of a global movement

Bone and Joint Week in the UK reflects wider international efforts to improve bone and joint health and reduce the global burden of MSK conditions.

Across the world there is increasing recognition that MSK health is fundamental to healthy ageing, economic participation and quality of life. ARMA is proud to support this global movement while ensuring the UK MSK community has a strong and coordinated national voice.

Get involved

Organisations and individuals can support Bone and Joint Week by:

• Sharing campaign messages and resources

• Highlighting MSK health in their communications

• Showcasing services or innovation

• Promoting lived experience

• Supporting local or national activity.

Campaign resources

Resources to support Bone and Joint Week include:

• Campaign briefings.

• Social media graphics

• Key messages

• Member resources

• Previous campaign highlights.

Previous Bone and Joint Weeks

Each year Bone and Joint Week highlights key themes and priorities for improving MSK health. Previous campaigns have helped strengthen awareness of prevention, rehabilitation and the importance of MSK health across the life course.

Contact us

If your organisation would like to get involved in Bone and Joint Week, please contact:

[email protected]