At Rehab Medicine of the Carolinas, we are committed to providing comprehensive care that focuses on your function, quality of life, and overall well-being. Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) scans are a cornerstone of our diagnostic services, offering a precise and non-invasive way to assess your bone health and guide personalized treatment plans.
This technology is crucial because it can detect subtle changes in bone density much earlier than conventional X-rays, often before significant bone mass has been lost or a fracture has occurred. Early detection allows for timely interventions to prevent the progression of bone diseases.
Why Consider a DEXA Scan?
- Diagnose Osteoporosis and Osteopenia: Osteoporosis is a condition where bones become weak and brittle, increasing the risk of fractures. Osteopenia is a precursor, indicating lower-than-normal bone density. DEXA is the definitive test for diagnosing these conditions.
- Assess Fracture Risk: By measuring your bone density, DEXA helps determine your likelihood of experiencing a bone fracture. This information, combined with other clinical risk factors, allows for a comprehensive assessment of your overall fracture risk.
- Monitor Treatment Effectiveness: For individuals undergoing treatment for osteoporosis or osteopenia, serial DEXA scans can track changes in bone density over time, helping your doctor assess how well your treatment plan is working and make necessary adjustments.
Understanding your bone health is a vital step in preventing fractures and maintaining your quality of life. If you believe a DEXA scan is right for you, or if you have concerns about your bone density, contact Rehab Medicine of the Carolinas today.
Advanced Bone Health Assessment with DEXA Technology
At Rehab Medicine of the Carolinas, we are proud to offer bone density testing using the state-of-the-art 2025 GE Lunar Prodigy DEXA scanner. This advanced technology allows us to perform highly accurate and reliable assessments of bone mineral density (BMD), which is essential for diagnosing conditions like osteoporosis and osteopenia, as well as assessing fracture risk.
What is a DEXA Scan?
A DEXA (Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) scan is the gold standard for evaluating bone strength. It is a quick, non-invasive, and painless test that uses low-dose X-rays to measure the mineral content of your bones. This helps us detect even subtle changes in bone density, allowing for early intervention and treatment when needed.
Our Comprehensive Approach
Unlike many larger imaging centers that typically scan only two sites (usually the spine and one hip), we scan four to five key skeletal sites, including:
- Lumbar spine
- Bilateral femur (hip)
- Bilateral radius (wrist)
We do this because we care deeply about your bone health. By evaluating more anatomical sites, we gain a more complete and accurate picture of your skeletal strength. This comprehensive approach helps us better identify early bone loss and tailor treatment plans that support long-term bone health.