Do you know your T-Score? Do you know what it means and why it is so important? No, it does not have anything to do with golf, baseball or soccer. However, it has everything to do with your health.

Your T-score is your measure of Bone Mineral Density (BMD) or bone mass. Bone density is the single best predictor of a future fracture. Density accounts for 80 percent of the strength of your bones. Just a few years ago, the only practical way to find out if you were losing bone mass was to break a bone! Now, there are tests available that can precisely measure bone density and tell you if your bones are dangerously weak without suffering the effects of a fracture.

A BMD is the only way to diagnose the devastating disease known as Osteoporosis, which is characterized by low bone mass. Osteoporosis is a major public health threat to 44 million Americans or 55 percent of those age 50 or older. In the United States, an estimated 10 million people have Osteoporosis and another 34 million have low bone mass, putting them at risk for a serious fracture. Women are more affected than men, but it is estimated that 8 million men are at risk for Osteoporosis and low bone mass.

A bone density test is the only way to determine whether or not you need medication to help maintain your bone mass, prevent further bone loss and reduce fracture risk. Several different tests are used to measure bone density. All of these tests are safe, painless, quick and precise.

The results of a bone density test can be a little confusing at first glance. However, once you know what the test score means, you will find the results very informative. The test will measure not only the amount of mineral (mainly calcium) in a specific area of bone, but it will also tell how well it is compacted. The more mineral, the denser the bone. Mineral is measured in grams and area is measured in centimeters. The BMD is described as grams per square centimeters, or g/cm2.

The T-score is what compares your bone density with that of the average healthy young adult woman. T-scores are based on a statistical measure called the standard deviation, which reflects differences from the average score. Here is what you need to know:

IF YOUR SCORE IS –1.0 or higher—you have adequate bone mass and are at low risk for a fracture.

IF YOUR SCORE IS BETWEEN –1.0 to –2.5, your bone mass is lower than normal and your risk for fracture is twice as high as average.

IF YOUR SCORE IS LESS THAN –2.5, your bone mass is very low—lower than 99 percent of healthy young adult women. Your risk for fracture is three times higher than normal. This is considered Osteoporosis.

It is important to know your T-score. PT Northwest now offers bone density testing using the Ultrasound Densitometry. Thanks to ultrasound technology, we can perform this simple and painless test in less than 5 minutes in the clinic. You are seated with your foot in a device no bigger than a suitcase. Ultrasonic sound waves are transmitted through your foot, measuring what is absorbed by the bone in your heel. You receive a print out of your T-score.

This valuable testing is available at our South Salem office. For more information or to make an appointment, call 503-585-5131.