Health Hub

Short answer: Osteopenia and Osteoporosis both involve reduced bone density, but osteoporosis is the more advanced condition and carries a greater risk of fractures. Osteopenia means your bone density is lower than expected but has not reached the level of osteoporosis. A Bone Density DEXA Scan is the gold standard test used to assess bone density and help identify changes in bone health.

Long answer:

Bones are living tissue that are constantly being broken down and rebuilt throughout life. As…

Short answer: A Bone Density DEXA Scan may be recommended for people who have risk factors for reduced bone density or osteoporosis, or who simply want to better understand their bone health. It is a quick, low-radiation assessment that measures bone mineral density and can help identify changes before a fracture occurs

Long answer:

Bone health changes throughout life, often without causing noticeable symptoms. Because reduced bone density usually…

Short answer: A DEXA scan uses a very low dose of ionising radiation. At WLC Medical in Belmont, Perth, we use a GE Lunar iDXA medical-grade DEXA scanner for bone density and total body composition assessments. One way to put the radiation exposure into perspective is to compare it with other everyday and medical exposures. A flight between Perth and the Pilbara can expose a person to several times the radiation of a typical DEXA scan due to naturally occurring cosmic radiation at altitude. DEXA also uses considerably less radiation than many other forms of medical imaging. Depending on the examination, a standard X-ray may involve tens of times more radiation than a typical DEXA scan, while CT scans generally involve substantially higher radiation doses again. At WLC Medical, we follow the radiation protection principle of As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) and do not perform DEXA scans during pregnancy. Overall, DEXA provides detailed information about bone density and body composition using a very low radiation dose.

Long answer:

Why Does a DEXA Scan Use Radiation? DEXA stands for Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry. The scanner…

Short answer: How often you should have a DEXA scan depends on the type of scan, why you are having it and whether you are monitoring changes over time. Bone Density DEXA scans may be repeated after a period recommended by your healthcare professional, while Total Body Composition DEXA scans may be repeated approximately every 3 to 6 months when you are actively making changes to your nutrition, exercise, weight or lifestyle and want to monitor changes in your body composition.

Long answer:

DEXA (Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) can be used to assess both bone density and body composition,…

Short answer: Although both assessments use the same DEXA (Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) technology, they measure different aspects of your health. A Bone Density DEXA Scan assesses the strength and density of your bones to help identify low bone density, osteopenia and osteoporosis. A Total Body Composition DEXA Scan measures body fat, lean muscle mass, visceral fat and overall body composition. Choosing the right scan depends on what you want to learn about your health.

Long answer:

DEXA scanning is considered one of the most accurate and reliable methods available for assessing…

Short answer: No. At WLC Medical, you do not need a GP referral to book a Bone Density DEXA Scan or a Total Body Composition DEXA Scan. As the first allied health clinic in Western Australia to offer medical-grade DEXA assessments without requiring a GP referral, we make it easier for people to access accurate information about their bone health and body composition. Many people choose to self-refer to better understand their bone health or body composition, establish a baseline, monitor changes over time, or support their health and fitness goals. If you have been referred by your GP or another healthcare provider, you're also welcome to book your scan with us.

Long answer:

A DEXA (Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) scan is a quick, safe and non-invasive assessment that uses…