International Association for the Study of Pain | Global Year Against Musculoskeletal Pain

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to announce the 2009–2010 Global Year Against Musculoskeletal Pain. This IASP-sponsored campaign will draw attention to the disabling pain experienced by people around the world suffering from musculoskeletal disorders. Built around the theme of “When Moving Hurts: Assess, Understand, Take Action,” this vital initiative calls upon each of us to provide a voice to those with musculoskeletal pain by:

Disseminating information about musculoskeletal pain worldwide, with particular emphasis on developing countries.
Educating pain researchers as well as health care professionals globally who see the issues associated with musculoskeletal pain first-hand in their interactions with patients.
Increasing awareness of musculoskeletal pain among government officials, members of the media, and the general public worldwide.
Encouraging government leaders, research institutions, and other key decision-makers to support more research, thus producing more effective and accessible treatment methods and outcomes for people with musculoskeletal pain.

Throughout the campaign, which will run through late October 2010, IASP’s members and chapters will organize meetings, symposia, patient-education events, publications, and many other efforts exploring different aspects of musculoskeletal pain. In addition, IASP and its chapters will sponsor media efforts highlighting some of the challenges posed by musculoskeletal pain.

I encourage you to get involved in any such activities planned in your area. Whether you help to plan and organize an event, deliver a talk related to musculoskeletal pain, or attend a meeting to show your support, your participation is essential to the success of the Global Year Against Musculoskeletal Pain. Please contact your local IASP chapter, or the IASP secretariat office at iaspdesk@iasp-pain.org, for more information on scheduled activities in your area and other ways to get involved.

Be sure to visit these Global Year web pages regularly, where you will find a series of Fact Sheets focusing on more than 20 topics related to musculoskeletal pain—furnished in English, Arabic, Chinese, French, Spanish, and other languages. The fact sheets, campaign posters, and other resources are available to all at no cost. You can also register to receive Global Year Updates (via email) with the latest news and campaign resources.

With everyone’s support and active participation, we can do much to minimize the pain and suffering of those with musculoskeletal pain. Let’s make it a great year!

Best wishes,

G.F. Gebhart, IASP President

Why Musculoskeletal Pain?

IASP decided to focus on musculoskeletal pain because it is an enormous problem that affects millions of people worldwide. According to leading pain experts—including IASP Global Year Co-Chairs Dr. Lars Arendt-Nielsen of the University of Aalborg, Denmark, and Dr. Kathleen A. Sluka of the University of Iowa, USA—more people around the world experience musculoskeletal pain than any other type of pain.

The problem of musculoskeletal pain is complex and far-reaching, encompassing many different types of pain, such as neck pain, limb pain, low back pain, joint pain, bone pain, and chronic widespread pain, just to name a few. Yet, despite the wide-ranging conditions and symptoms, all types of musculoskeletal pain share similar underlying mechanisms, manifestations, and potential treatments.

Challenges and Issues

IASP has identified several major challenges surrounding musculoskeletal pain that the Global Year campaign must address, including the following:

Moreover, even when the source of the musculoskeletal pain is identifiable, it can still be difficult to link the source and the severity of the pain, as they do not always match. Although the patient’s pain is real, you cannot always see it. He or she is in pain, but the clinician cannot determine why or pinpoint the source.

Beyond the suffering and discomfort associated with musculoskeletal pain, there are huge financial and other costs, including medical care expenses, lost work days, and diminished quality and productivity in patients’ work and personal lives—all of which are fueled by worldwide trends, including:

New Features and Support Materials

IASP is pleased to offer several new features and support materials for the 2009–2010 Global Year campaign:

Acknowledgements

IASP gratefully acknowledges the following authors of the fact sheets for the Global Year Against Musculoskeletal Pain. Thanks!

Lars Arendt-Nielsen* (Denmark), Mary F. Barbe (USA), Marie Hoeger Bement (USA), Nikolai Bogduk (Australia), Michele Curatolo (Switzerland), Antoon De Laat (Belgium), Steven De Peuter (Belgium), Mats Djupsjöbacka (Sweden), David T. Felson (USA), César Fernández-de-las-Peñas (Spain), Robert Gatchel (USA), Steven Z. George (USA), Thomas Graven-Nielsen (Denmark), Paul Hodges (Australia), Hans Christian Hoeck (Denmark), Uwe Kersting (Denmark), Bruce Kidd (UK), Linda Le Resche (USA), Siegfried Mense (Germany), Tuhina Neogi (USA), Hans Georg Schaible (Germany), Kathleen A. Sluka* (USA), Roland Staud (USA), Michele Sterling (Australia), Dennis Turk (USA), Johannes Vlaeyen (Belgium), Harriet M. Wittink (Netherlands), and M.B. Yunus (USA)