The heel is placed in a warm water bath to provide a path for the ultrasound energy to follow. The water automatically drains, and refill with fresh water between tests. Both are accurate and comparable to the DEXA that you find in hospitals. This way your doctor can compare test results from both types of tests. After receiving your first baseline test and monitoring yourself yearly, you can keep track of any bone loss that may be occurring.
Awareness is the key to prevention with osteoporosis.
The sooner in life you are aware of bone loss the quicker you will be able to start preventing any further deterioration. Now that we can monitor ourselves easily, a yearly check up is recommended. This information, along with other factors, helps gauge the risk of osteoporotic fracture.