Bone Density

Summary

Strong bones are important for your health. A bone mineral density (BMD) test is the best way to measure your bone health. It compares your bone density, or mass, to that of a healthy person who is the same age and sex as you are. It can show:

• Whether you have osteoporosis, a disease that makes your bones weak
• Your risk for breaking bones
• Whether your osteoporosis treatment is working

Low bone mass that is not low enough to be osteoporosis is sometimes called osteopenia. Causes of low bone mass include family history, not developing good bone mass when you are young, and certain conditions or medicines. Not everyone who has low bone mass gets osteoporosis, but they are at higher risk for getting it.

If you have low bone mass, there are things you can do to help slow down bone loss. These include eating foods rich in calcium and vitamin D and doing weight-bearing exercise such as walking, tennis, or dancing. In some cases, your doctor may prescribe medicines to prevent osteoporosis.

NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Diagnosis and Tests

• Bone Density Scan National Library of Medicine

Patient Handouts

• Bone mineral density test Medical Encyclopedia
• Osteopenia – premature infants Medical Encyclopedia
• What causes bone loss? Medical Encyclopedia

Start Here

• Bone Mineral Density Tests: What the Numbers Mean National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
• Food and Your Bones — Osteoporosis Nutrition Guidelines Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation
• Low Bone Density Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation
• Osteopenia American Academy of Family Physicians

Women

• Breast Cancer and Bone Loss Endocrine Society
• Menopause and Bone Loss Endocrine Society

Genetics

• Camurati-Engelmann disease: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Bone Density National Institutes of Health

Related Issues

• Exercise for Your Bone Health National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
• Osteoporosis Endocrine Society

Specifics

• HIV and Osteoporosis National Institutes of Health, Office of AIDS Research
• Osteopetrosis National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Children

• Kids and Their Bones National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Find an Expert

• National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
• National Institutes of Health Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Journal Articles

• Bone Density