Our practice has one of the most powerful systems currently available for bone density and body composition measurement, which offers a particularly high resolution and places very little strain on the patient.
The assessment of bone density, fracture risk and body composition is a central component in the diagnosis and treatment monitoring of osteoporosis. The DXA method we use is considered the current “gold standard”.
If a full-body scan of the spine and hips is not possible for medical reasons , a scan of both forearms is sufficient. However, the patient is only exposed to a very low level of radiation even when creating a full spine scan.
In some patient groups (factors here are in particular age, long-term use of cortisone and hormones and, in female patients, the menopause), the probability is higher that bone density has already decreased. If cortisone were nevertheless injected into the spine, there would be a risk of vertebral fractures. To rule out such risks , it is particularly important to determine the bone density.
In addition to analyzing bone density, we also obtain highly precise data to determine body composition. We measure muscle mass, fat mass, water content and bone mass. This provides us with up to 30 percent more accurate information than that provided by the classic body fat analysis scales and is therefore particularly informative for competitive athletes .