Who needs Bone Mineral Density Test?
A bone mineral density test is a diagnostic test that experts recommend to see if a person has osteoporosis. Test also benefits to evaluate the success level of treatment for Osteoporosis. It also helps experts identify decreases in bone density and determine the risk of broken bones.
What does test measures?
Osteoporosis makes bones weak, increasing their tendency to break. The test measure how many grams of calcium and other bone minerals are in a segment of bone. Lower spine bones, lumbar vertebrae, the narrow neck of the thighbone, and bones in the forearm are the ones that are more prone to break because of osteoporosis. Therefore experts recommend bone density tests more often for these locations.
Procedure
The Bone Mineral Density test involves a low radiation mechanical arm passing over the body and generating images as a person lies over the padded platform. The tests take less time, from a few minutes to half an hour.
Bone density tests measures vary depending on the location of the test. Experts consider bone density measure of spine or hip as the most accurate to make predictions about fracture risk and the tendency of bone to resist or break due to injuries. The advanced devices measuring bone density facilitate measure of bone density in the bones at the far ends of the skeleton, such as fingers, wrist, or heels.
Results
T-score and Z-score show results for bone density. Comparing the scores with the T-score of a healthy person of the same sex forms the basis for making conclusions and interpretations of results. Z score is the number of standard deviations above or below from the score of a healthy person of your age, sex, weight, and ethnic or racial origin.