Life Line Screening uses an ultrasound measurement of the heel bone to determine abnormal mass density. The result is expressed as a T-score that corresponds to World Health Organization guidelines.
The heel is measured because its bone is similar to that found in the hip where osteoporotic fractures occur most often. A Bone Mineral Density (BMD) measurement is a powerful predictor of skeletal strength and fracture risk. Your physician can use this BMD measurement along with your other clinical risk factors (gender, age, fracture history, family history, medications, smoking, exercise, calcium intake, and general health status) as an aid to diagnosis and patient mangement decisions.
We will ask you to place your foot in the bone densitometer. This quick and painless device uses ultrasound to measure the bone mineral density of your heel.