Bone density measurements are used to determine whether a patient risks being affected by osteoporosis. A safe method of measuring bone density is using an x-ray technology that is called iDXA. During the examination, the density of your right and left hip is measured, as well as in the vertebrae in the small of your back. Bone density describes how much bone mineral there is in your skeleton. The value provided by the measurement is compared to the normal value for your age group to assess whether you are in the risk zone.

Preparations

During the measurement you may not wear any clothes or have anything on your body that contains metal – for example, jewellery, underwired bras, clothes with metal buttons or similar –  as they affect the results of the measurement. If you are female, you must not be pregnant at the time of the measurement.

 

What happens?

Staff will meet you when you arrive at the Swedish Winter Sports Centre. If there is no one there when you arrive, please wait on sofas in the ground floor corridor, just to the right of the door, and someone will be there soon.

The measurement takes 20 minutes. It is simple and does not hurt. You lie on a bed with an x-ray machine above you. The machine moves backwards and forwards over your body and sends two very weak x-rays through the bones that are measured. The level of radiation is much lower than for normal x-rays.

 

Results

The results are sent on the same day to the doctor who referred you to us. The doctor will then forward to results to you.

 

Getting here

The measurement is carried out at the Swedish Winter Sports Centre (Nationellt Vintersportcentrum) on the university campus in Östersund, in building D (see map). Parking is available nearby. There is wheelchair accessible parking next to the centre.

 

Questions about the measurements?

Test group: +46 (0)70 304 55 14

E-mail: boka.nvc@miun.se