08/17/2026
WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU GET A REMS STUDY
When you get a REMS bone study you get a precise, highly accurate and reproducible sonographic (ultrasound) assessment of the BMD and bone quality of the axial regions of your body that meets the standards of the World Health Organization and that is reported in a standardized fashion to be used by your Bone Health care provider to diagnose, treat and monitor diseases of bone characterized by decreased bone density and bone quality.
The EchoS is basically an ultrasound unit which is connected to a convex (curved) hand-held transducer that is used to perform the study.
The one aspect of getting a REMS test, is that you’ll be asked not to eat before the test. Also, you will be instructed to wear loose-fitting clothing.
During the study the examiner will use the B-mode ultrasound image to visualize the lumbar spine. Ultrasound jelly will be squirted onto your abdomen. The transducer is then placed over your unclothed abdomen. The EchoS will tell the examiner when to move with a “beep” Scanning is done sequentially. The total time is approximately 80 seconds for the lumbar spine testing. The collected data is then processed for an additional 1 to 2 minutes. If the data acquisition was considered to be sufficient, calculations of bone quantity and quality will be performed and reported. You’ll get to see those tests right then and there! A full report can then be either printed or e-mailed to you.
Examinations for the hip follow the same sequence.
As you can see from the above description, there is no special positioning for REMS testing like there is for DXA. You just have to lie on the examination table and relax, and we will try to make sure that you are comfortable during the study. Link in our bio to schedule your REMs scan for September! 🦴🩻
