Waving for World Arthritis Day

Physical activity is vitally important for people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs), which is why the 'Move to Improve' theme was created for World Arthritis Day (WAD) in 2011 /2012.

  

To generate awareness of some of the key issues facing people with RMDs in the United States and build support for WAD and the 'Move to Improve' theme, The Arthritis & Infusion Center is promoting a fun campaign in which people are invited to photograph or video people waving - a physical activity everyone can participate in!

Everyone can join in by taking a fun photograph or short video of their friends, families, colleagues, team mates and wider networks waving their hands, arms or whole body. Photographs and video footage of people waving can then be uploaded onto the World Arthritis Day website (www.worldarthritisday.org/waving). Each person seen waving in the photograph or video will count, so the more people you can get waving the better. The target is to capture 100,000 people from Europe and around the world waving. The number of people seen waving from each country can be found on the WAD website.

Photographs and still images from video footage of people waving will become individual pixels in a giant picture (photomontage) to be used in national campaigns on World Arthritis Day (12 October).

 Facts and figures about RMDs:

• Rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases encompass more than 200 different diseases which span from various types of arthritis to osteoporosis and on to systemic connective tissue diseases.

• Rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases are characterised by pain and a consequent reduction in the range, motion and function in one or more areas of the musculoskeletal system; in some diseases there are signs of inflammation: swelling, redness and warmth in the affected areas. Rheumatic diseases can also affect internal organs.

• In the industrialized world rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases affect more individuals than any other disease group, with 120 million people affected across Europe alone. 

• In the United States there are nearly 46 million people who are affected by rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases, this is 14.6% of the population. 

• 21 million people in the United States are affected by arthritis. 

• One third of people are affected by rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases at some point during their lifetime and people of all ages can be affected. 

• In Europe almost every family is affected in some way by a rheumatic or musculoskeletal disease.
• Musculoskeletal complaints are the second most common reason for consulting a doctor and account for around 10% to 20% of all doctors visits.
• 75% to 85% of people will suffer from low back pain at some point in their lives  

 
Dr. Crayton and our Staff have uploaded our Waving images for World Arthritis Day. We cannot wait to see yours! Upload them today and let's join together in the fight against arthritis. If you have any questions, contact us or comment below and we will gladly help.