The British Orthopaedic Association (BOA) was formed in 1918 with twelve founding members. Today, with over 4,000 members, the Association sees its purpose as working for the benefit of patients by advancing the science and practice of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery. The BOA believes it has been very successful in this role and the increasing demand is reflected in the fact that, today, 40% of all surgeons in the UK work in Trauma and Orthopaedics. As well as the human cost of pain and suffering, musculoskeletal disorders are the most common cause of illness in the UK affecting over 8.5 million people and are responsible for in excess of 11 million lost working days at a cost to society, in 2007 prices of over £7 billion. It is the sixth-largest area of NHS expenditure, at over £3.3 billion annually and accounts for over 30% of patients who visit their GPs. Over the years, through different charitable vehicles, the BOA has granted in excess of £5.7 million to support orthopaedic research. As a charity, it relies on voluntary donations from people such as you. Joint Action has been established by the BOA to help patients by raising funds for research so as to improve orthopaedic treatment for you and future generations. We aim to Keep People Mobile.