Bone and Joint Health Awareness

Oct 12th 2026

The likelihood of bone and joint issues rises with increasing age. Musculoskeletal conditions affect over a billion people worldwide, making them a leading cause of disability globally. In the United States, musculoskeletal diseases affect more than half of adults age 18 and older, and nearly 75% of individuals over 65.¹

This year, Bone and Joint Health National Action Week occurs October 12^th - 18^th to raise awareness about prevention, treatment, and management of bone and joint conditions. Common musculoskeletal conditions include arthritis (osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis), osteoporosis, chronic back and neck pain, trauma, and fractures. These conditions significantly impact mobility and quality of life.

World Arthritis Day occurs on October 12^th every year and is a global awareness initiative for over 100 conditions including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, spondyloarthritis, and juvenile idiopathic arthritis.² World Osteoporosis Day occurs on October 20^th every year. The 2026 campaign focuses on building, protecting, and strengthening bones throughout life.³

Osteoporosis is a condition where bones thin, are less dense with increased fragility, raising the risk of fractures, which can significantly impact mobility, independence, and quality of life. Osteoporosis is a commonly underdiagnosed chronic condition that is silent, producing no symptoms until a fracture occurs. Millions of Americans have the disease without knowing it with women being more affected than men. Please see the following table:⁴

Source: CDC National for Health Statistics (NHANES 2017-2018), Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation

IBL- America offers a wide variety of products useful for studying musculoskeletal diseases:

TNF-α plays a role in rheumatic diseases.⁵ Monoclonal antibodies, such as Adalimumab, to TNF-α are used to treat musculoskeletal conditions.⁶

Osteocalcin is an abundant non-collagenous protein in bone matrix that is produced by osteoblasts.⁷

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) ⁸is a cytokine involved in autoimmune diseases.⁸Monoclonal antibodies, such as Tocilizumab, to IL-6 are used to treat rheumatoid arthritis.⁹

FGF23 regulates phosphate and vitamin D metabolism.¹⁰Klotho is a co-receptor for FGF23. Higher levels of Klotho reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis in women.¹¹

More research is needed to help prevent, diagnose and treat musculoskeletal diseases. Please visit the IBL America website to learn more about these and other product offerings to aid in the study of musculoskeletal diseases.

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