What it is: A quick, non-invasive, and painless test that measures bone mineral density (BMD), primarily used to diagnose osteoporosis and assess fracture risk.
How it’s done: You will lie flat on your back on a padded table. A mechanical arm will slowly pass over your body, emitting a very low dose of X-rays to create images of your bones, typically the hip and spine. You’ll need to lie very still.
Time: 10-30 minutes total.