R.E.M.S. TECHNOLOGY
R.E.M.S. is redefining bone health management by bringing ionizing radiation free diagnostic bone health imaging to adults aged 18 and older in the United States.
Whether you’re in your in your thirties training for that next endurance race, enjoying retirement on the pickleball court or somewhere in between, a R.E.M.S. scan can provide the data you need to stay in control of your bone health over time.
Don’t wait for your risk of osteoporotic fracture to silently build. Take control of your bone health now, with evidence-based knowledge as your foundation. Your bones will thank you.
What is the difference between R.E.M.S. and DXA?
Both modalities are FDA-approved to provide diagnostic quality bone imaging by assessing bone mineral density (BMD).
Your R.E.M.S. report will also contain a quality assessment of your bone microarchitecture called a Fragility Score (FS). In a head-to-head trial, the R.E.M.S. Fragility Score was shown to be up to four times more predictive of five year fracture when compared to DXA bone mineral density (BMD).
R.E.M.S. technology is highly sensitive to bone mineral density changes, allowing for frequent testing to monitor therapeutic progress or to keep track of decline in bone health.
DXA technology can be “machine and operator dependent”, meaning you may not be able to accurately compare your own DXA scans over time.
R.E.M.S. has the flexibility to assess special populations such as people with known scoliosis and rare bone conditions such as DISH syndrome.
Widely Accessible
DXA scans need a prescription for access and are typically not covered by insurance for people under the age of 65. This limits the ability to track bone health during critical periods of bone loss.
R.E.M.S. is directly available for adults 18 and older, making diagnostic-quality bone health imaging accessible to a much wider audience. Consider incorporating R.E.M.S. scanning in to your proactive health and wellness plan if you are:
- A woman approaching perimenopause, in menopause or are postmenopausal
- An endurance athlete or fitness enthusiast
- Living with a chronic health condition that can impact bone health
- An individual with a family history of fracture
- In post-operative rehabilitation
- Struggling with mobility issues that impact your access to DXA
What is R.E.M.S. Technology?
R.E.M.S. (Radiofrequency Echo-graphic Multi Spectrometry) is a clinically validated ultrasound technique that is capable of measuring bone density, bone fragility and body composition at the hip and spine. R.E.M.S. is FDA-approved to provide diagnostic quality imaging.
R.E.M.S. analyzes radio frequency signals collected during an ultrasound scan with a device that is free of ionizing radiation. Each scan evaluates bone density and quality, providing a calculated five year risk of osteoporotic fracture of the scanned site. R.E.M.S. scanning is non-invasive and takes less than 15 minutes to complete.
More than just bone density.
Bone Mineral Density (BMD)– Similar to DXA, a R.E.M.S. scan provides traditional and accurate T-Scores and Z-Scores calculations to assess your bone density.
Fragility Score (FS) – Bone Fragility Score (FS) is a R.E.M.S.-specific data measurement that examines the microarchitecture of the bone, providing an assessment of bone quality. In a head to head trial, R.E.M.S.-based Fragility Scores were shown to be nine times more predictive of five year fracture than DXA BMD scores.
Body Composition – R.E.M.S. scans are able to accurately assess body fat and muscle mass without the variability that can come from fluctuating hormones, hydration level or timing of last meal.
Why haven’t I heard about R.E.M.S. until now?
While R.E.M.S. technology has been used globally since 2017, the United States availability of R.E.M.S. as an FDA-approved diagnostic device only began in 2024.
In 2018, Osteoporosis International published the results of a pivotal multicenter clinical trial comparing R.E.M.S. and DXA for the diagnosis of osteoporosis based on imaging in the lumbar spine and femoral neck (hip).
In 2019, the European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis (ESCEO) released a consensus paper highlighting the value of R.E.M.S. in improving bone health by advancing imaging technology.
In 2023, another peer-reviewed clinical trial was published demonstrating the ability of R.E.M.S. technology to predict five year fracture in the lumbar spine and femoral neck (hip).
While R.E.M.S. may be new to the United States, the technology has been clinically validated and widely used as a valuable tool in the pursuit of better bone health worldwide.