Bone mineral density, also called dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, DEXA or DXA, uses a very small dose of ionizing radiation to produce pictures of the inside of the body to measure bone loss. It is commonly used to diagnose osteoporosis, to assess an individual's risk for developing osteoporotic fractures. DXA is simple, quick and noninvasive. It's also the most commonly used and the most standard method for diagnosing osteoporosis. Ankle bone mineral density measures bone density at your heel.The test is less thorough because it doesn’t examine your hips or spine. It is a portable device for screening. All peripheral DXA measurements of the ankle joint were significantly correlated with central DXA measurements.

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DXA is also effective in tracking the effects of treatment for osteoporosis and other conditions that cause bone loss.

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Bone mineral density testing is strongly recommended if you:
are a post-menopausal woman and not taking estrogen.
have a personal or maternal history of hip fracture or smoking.
are a post-menopausal woman who is tall (over 5 feet 7 inches) or thin (less than 125 pounds).
are a man with clinical conditions associated with bone loss, such as rheumatoid arthritis, chronic kidney or liver disease.
use medications that are known to cause bone loss, including corticosteroids such as Prednisone, various anti-seizure medications such as Dilantin and certain barbiturates, or high-dose thyroid replacement drugs.
have type 1 (formerly called juvenile or insulin-dependent) diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease or a family history of osteoporosis.
have high bone turnover, which shows up in the form of excessive collagen in urine samples.
have a thyroid condition, such as hyperthyroidism.
have a parathyroid condition, such as hyperparathyroidism.
have experienced a fracture after only mild trauma.
have had x-ray evidence of vertebral fracture or other signs of osteoporosis.