Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and more susceptible to non-traumatic fracture. There are no obvious warning signs. Osteoporosis typically progresses painlessly, and often manifests itself through a bone fracture. Common fracture points include the hip, spine, and wrist.

In healthy bone two specialized types of cells, osteoclasts and osteoblasts, work in tandem to break down old bone and build new bone. This process, known as remodeling, keeps the skeletal system strong. Throughout a woman's lifetime, bone regeneration occurs dynamically, with bone material constantly being formed and resorbed. In her 20's, a woman is at her peak regeneration, creating more bone than is resorbed. In the early 30's this process reverses itself, resulting in a normal, predictable loss of bone. The rate of bone loss increases after the onset of menopause.

Osteoporosis results when bone resorption outpaces new bone formation. On the outside, everything about a person with osteoporosis appears to be normal. But inside, as the bone becomes porous and fragile, osteoporotic fractures can happen without warning.

Over one and a half million Americans are subjected to life threatening osteoporotic fractures every year. Twenty percent of those who suffer hip fractures die from complications within a year; 60% become dependent on constant help in their daily lives. It is not strictly a women's disease, though 85% of victims are women.*

The National Osteoporosis Foundation estimates that more than 10 million people in the United States have this disease and another 33 million are at risk for it. Through earlier detection of low bone density using MetriScan and the use of appropriate prevention and treatment measures, the ravaging effects of this disease can be reduced.

By screening patients with in-office peripheral devices like MetriScan, bone loss can be detected early enough to allow treatment to reduce or stop bone loss and reduce the risk of osteoporotic fractures.

* National Osteoporosis Foundation, Copyright 2002