Preventive Services Task Force says people who should get DXA scans for bone density include: It compares your bone density to a normal score for a person of your same age and body size. Sometimes doctors will give you another DXA scan result - a Z score. T-score of -2.5 or lower = osteoporosis.T-score between -1.0 and -2.5 = low bone density, or osteopenia.T-score of -1.0 or above = normal bone density.The lower your score, the weaker your bones are: It shows how much higher or lower your bone density is than that of a healthy 30-year-old, the age when bones are at their strongest. DXA Scan Resultsįor the results of your scan, you’ll get a T-score.
Based on the difference between the two beams, your doctor can measure your bone density. This will vary depending on how thick the bone is. The machine measures the amount of X-rays that pass through the bone from each beam.
One is high energy and the other is low energy. When the test is over, you’ll be able to go home.Ī DXA scanner is a machine that produces two X-ray beams. Instead, you’ll lie on an open X-ray table and try to stay still as the scanner passes over your body. Unlike some other types of tests, like MRIs or CT scans, you won’t have to lie inside a closed tunnel or ring. It’s painless, and the amount of radiation you get from the X-rays the scan uses is low. The scan generally takes 10 to 20 minutes. These areas can give your doctor a good idea of whether you’re likely to get fractures in other bones in your body. If you can’t test those, you can get a DXA scan on your forearm.
The most widely used is a scan called dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA or DEXA). The test determines bone health and your risk of fracture due to osteoporosis.ĭXA scanning focuses on two main areas - the hip and the spine. Testing your bone density - how strong your bones are - is the only way to know for sure if you have osteoporosis.
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