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Common Causes of Osteoporosis |
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Lack of calcium and vitamin D
Not enough weight-bearing exercise
Menopause
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Imaging/X-Ray
A bone density test is the only way to know if you have osteoporosis for sure. Such a test can show how far the disease has progressed.
A bone density test can help:
- Determine osteoporosis before a fracture happens.
- Predict your chance of fracturing a bone.
- Find out your rate of bone loss and see how well your treatment is working, if the test is done yearly.
Bone density is measured through painless, noninvasive scanning techniques.
- Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) measures the spine, hip or total body and is the most widely used technique available. The procedure exposes the patient to little radiation, needs little scanning time, is inexpensive and is highly accurate. It can be used to scan nearly any part of the body. Because of its precision, DEXA is well suited to making periodic measurements to track bone loss over time, to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment or as part of a clinical trial for a new potential treatment for osteoporosis.
- Single-photon absorptiometry is relatively inexpensive. The scan does not expose you to much radiation and measures density in the lower leg bones or heel.
- Quantitative computed tomography (CT) measures bone density in the lower back. However, CT also can measure bone density in other parts of the body. You are exposed to a much higher level of radiation than with other techniques.
Ultrasound of the foot
Some doctors do ultrasounds of the foot because it may help identify bone architecture and density. But no universally accepted standard exists for the diagnosis of osteoporosis by this method, and it cannot be used to track how well your treatment is working.
More on Osteoporosis The Importance of Screening
Bone Mineral Density
Diagnostic Tests for Osteoporosis
In the Encyclopedia: Seniors' health
Bone disorder drugs
Bone density test
This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.
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