Your Questions, Answered

  • A REMS assessment takes about 30 minutes. Basic information (name, date of birth, height, weight, etc.) is collected first. The client lies face up while a two-minute scan of the lower spine is done, followed by analysis and a report. Then, a one-minute hip scan is completed with the same analysis process.

  • Please arrive 15 minutes early, as late arrivals may not be accommodated. Use the restroom before your exam if needed.

    Wear loose, comfortable clothing. Your groin area will need to be accessible for the hip scan, and your abdomen for the spine scan. You’ll be asked to lower your pants to mid-thigh, so please wear underwear.

    Avoid eating and drinking carbonated beverages for 2-3 hours before your exam, as gas in the intestines can affect the spine scan results.

  • It may not cause discomfort for most individuals, but if you have an abdominal hernia or sensitivity in the abdominal area, the lumbar spine segment of a REMS scan could potentially be uncomfortable. Similarly, if your BMI exceeds 35 or if you tend to carry excess weight in your abdomen, there might be some discomfort due to the pressure required to obtain a high-quality scan of the lumbar spine.

  • Clients will receive their OsteoInsight report immediately after their scan, making the process quick and convenient. Instead of waiting for emails or online access, each client is provided with a thumb drive on the spot containing their full report and scan results. This ensures they have secure, easy-to-access information they can review right away or share with healthcare providers as needed.

  • If you have undergone a total hip arthroplasty, the hip with the implant cannot be scanned. This would also be the same for DXA. If there is hardware in the lumbar spine or if you had a kyphoplasty or vertebroplasty, it is important to tell anyone who is imaging you, whether DXA or Echolight REMS, that you have had this type of procedure. If you have a history of a lumbar spine fracture, you will want to share this information with your examiner. 

  • Echolight is the company that developed REMS (Radiofrequency Echographic Multispectrometry), an ultrasound technology used to evaluate bone mineral density (BMD) and bone quality.

    Like a DXA scan, REMS measures BMD. However, REMS also evaluates bone quality through a Fragility Score, which helps predict fracture risk. DXA scans typically measure only BMD unless additional software, such as Trabecular Bone Score (TBS), is added.

    Research studies show a strong correlation between REMS and DXA results. REMS may also be more sensitive to small changes in bone density and is less affected by positioning issues, arthritis, scoliosis, or body type differences.

    Neither test is universally better. Patients monitoring bone health should compare REMS results over time with REMS and DXA results with DXA for consistent tracking.