With the Promulgation of the Bone and Joint Decade Global Declaration dated 13 September 2002 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the Bone and Joint Decade further extends its global partnerships to promote physical activity and sports for musculoskeletal health.

Whereas, the benefits of physical activity for general health and mediation of significant health hazards of inactivity are widely recognized in the prevention of disease, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, hyper-tension and diabetes, and

Whereas, appropriate physical activity is central in the amelioration of many musculoskeletal disorders, including osteoporosis, arthritis, joint disease, and back pain,

"Bone and Joint Decade On the Move" has been chosen as the theme for the 2004 Bone and Joint Decade Annual World Network Conference in Beijing, China to highlight the essential role of physical activity, now

Be it known that we, the undersigned, representing National Action Networks of the Bone and Joint Decade participating organisations around the world, hereby declare our commitment and action to work in collaboration to:

-Recognise physical activity for health as one of the priority preventive measures for the musculoskeletal disorders;

-Foster the advantages of physical activity on increasing longevity, bone density, strengthening muscles, enhancing neuromuscular coordination, reducing the risk of falls and avoiding osteoporosis-related fractures;

-Emphasise the significance of moderate exercise in the management programme for people with joint disease to improve muscular strength and gait;

-Incorporate a scheme of physical activity in the prevention and rehabilitation for back pain in the community;

-Encourage patients with musculoskeletal disorders to maintain continuous physical activity in order to ameliorate their condition and improve their quality of life;

-Align support from national government, professional bodies, institutions and related industries in promoting physical activity and sports for musculoskeletal health;

-Ensure public awareness of the importance of maintaining and improving musculoskeletal health through support of quality, focused physical education programmes;

-Empower individuals and their countries to reduce the enormous burden and cost of musculoskeletal disorders;

-Enhance co-operation of the existing dynamic global alliances joined in achieving the above objectives; and

-Strengthen all efforts of individuals, businesses, public organisations, and governments to keep people active and moving.

And be it further known that in pursuit of the foregoing, we pledge to unite our efforts worldwide to improve and continue our work, and to research, expand and disseminate knowledge for the prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders.

We so state this on the 24th day of September in the year 2004:
(NAN Coordinators, to be listed alphabetically by country.)