ABOUT US

EMPOWERING YOUR CHILDREN FOR A LIFETIME OF JOINT HEALTH
THE JOINT PAIN EPIDEMIC
The US healthcare system has been burdened by the rising incidence and cost of musculoskeletal conditions that cause joint pain and lost mobility as people age. Adults are suffering more than ever.

  • 36.5% of Americans have a BMI over 30¹
  • 126.6 million Americans are affected by musculoskeletal conditions²
  • 51.8 million Americans suffer from arthritis³
  • 20.5 million Americans 12 or older have a substance abuse disorder involving prescription pain relievers⁴
  • 75.7 million adults suffer from neck or low back pain⁶
  • 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men over age 50 will suffer an osteoporosis-related fracture, and 20% die within 12 months due to hip fractures⁷

Unfortunately, the youth of America are also struggling to keep their joints functioning at a healthy level so they can stay active in school, work and society and avoid joint pain and dysfunction. Their statistics are alarming:

  • 1 in 8 preschoolers is obese⁸
  • Joint pain is the most frequent cause of missed school days, ahead of low back pain⁹
  • Juvenile diabetes has increased by 23%¹⁰
  • 33% of childhood diseases are caused by environmental exposures¹¹
  • Over 25% of children leave youth sports due to health problems or injuries¹²
  • ACL tears in the under-13 age group have trended upwards over the last decade, especially in females¹³
  • Increased muscle mass leads to higher forces across joints. This can lead to more severe joint injury¹⁴

The Solution

The human brain continues to grow and mature until our late teens and early twenties. Different parts of the brain grow at different times. Learning a new task is easier as a young person, as long as the task is not too hard, and is repeated over time. Children create beneficial routines when they repeat actions that help with their growth and development. Repeated routines become habits, and they are more easily accepted and formed at an earlier age.

JEO strives to give young people the knowledge to create routines that will lead to healthy joint habits. Age-appropriate media presentations given by local professionals (doctors, physical therapists, chiropractors, personal trainers, physical education teachers, athletic trainers, etc.) will allow these professionals to share their joint knowledge with the youth in their community. These presentations are either symposia coupled with models and posters of normal human joints, for a hands-on experience, or a media presentation with a question and answer session. The presentations are appropriate for students in grades 4 through 12, and can also be geared toward college students. Each grade has a different presentation that connects with age-specific students and keeps them engaged.

JEO presentations will help young people and their parents realize and understand the importance of joint health, and raise joint-health awareness. With knowledge and understanding, the practice of preventive orthopedics can begin at a young age. Young people will become more conscious of their joints as they engage in an active lifestyle (recreation, sports, family and work). As they age, they will be happier people living with healthier joints.


JEO Statistics References

  1. Dillon, C. F., MD, Ph.D, Gu, Q., MD, Ph.D, Hoffman, H. J., M.A., & Ko, C., Ph.D. (2010, April 31). Vision, Hearing, Balance, and Sensory Impairment in Americans Aged 70 Years and Over: United States, 1999-2006. Retrieved July 17, 2017, from https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db31.htm
  2. One in two Americans has a musculoskeletal condition costing an estimated $213 billion each year in treatment and lost wages. (2016, March 1). Retrieved July 17, 2017, from http://newsroom.aaos.org/media-resources/Press-releases/one-in-two-americans-have-a-musculoskeletal-condition.htm
  3. Arthritis-Related Statistics. (2017, March 06). Retrieved July 17, 2017, from https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/data_statistics/arthritis-related-stats.htm
  4. Opioid-addiction-disease-facts-figures [PDF]. (2016). Rockville: American Society of Addiction Medicine. https://www.asam.org/docs/default-source/advocacy/opioid-addiction-disease-facts-figures.pdf
  5. Numbers [PDF]. (n.d.). Rosemont: Bone and Joint Initiative USA. https://www.aaos.org/Govern/Federal/CapHill/Numbers.pdf
  6. Facts and Statistics. (n.d.). Retrieved July 17, 2017, from https://www.iofbonehealth.org/facts-statistics
  7. Progress on Childhood Obesity. (2013, August 06). Retrieved July 17, 2017, from https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/childhoodobesity/index.html
  8. Rosenfeld, S. B., MD, Hersh, A. O., MD, Raney, E. M., MD, & Watkins-Castillo, S., MD. (2014) Children and Adolescents. Retrieved July 17, 2017, from http://www.boneandjointburden.org/2013-report/vii-pediatric-musculoskeletal-conditions/vii
  9. Linebaugh, K. (2012, June 09). Type 1 Diabetes Rate Rises Among U.S. Youth. Retrieved July 17, 2017, from https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303296604577456552961788284
  10. Almost a quarter of all disease caused by environmental exposure. (2006, June 16). Retrieved July 17, 2017, from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2006/pr32/en/
  11. Kelly, B., & Carchia, C. (2013, July 11). "Hey, data data -- swing!". Retrieved July 17, 2017, from http://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/9469252/hidden-demographics-youth-sports-espn-magazine
  12. Musinski, R. (2014, April 28). ACL injuries on the rise, but evidence-based program can reduce risk: clinical report. Retrieved July 17, 2017, from http://www.aappublications.org/content/35/5/11.1
  13. Stoppani, P. J. (2014, November 10). Build Muscle Mass While Preventing Joint Damage. Retrieved July 17, 2017, from http://www.flexonline.com/training/build-muscle-mass-while-preventing-joint-damage
  14. Start your children on the road to long-lasting joint health. Email JEO at info@jointeducation.org for more information.

​Empowering Children One Backpack at a Time

DAVID T. NEUMAN | TEDXBEACONSTREET
info@jointeducation.org |  212-244-4244
​© Joint Education Outreach, Inc. All rights reserved.
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