REMS / Bone Health
Get a Fast, Accurate, Radiation-Free
Bone Density Scan
- TGA-Approved Technology
- 100% Radiation-Free
- Results Reviewed by Sports and Exercise Physicians
- No Referral Needed
Do Any of These Sound Familiar?
You don’t need to have osteoporosis to benefit from knowing your bone health. A REMS scan is for you if:
- You’ve had a fall or a fracture from a minor bump or knock
- Osteoporosis or osteopenia runs in your family
- You’re peri or post-menopausal and haven’t had your bones checked
- You’re on medication known to affect bone density (e.g. long-term steroids, certain cancer treatments)
- You’re an athlete or active person dealing with a stress fracture or recurring bone stress injury
- You’ve been told a standard DEXA scan is hard to read accurately because of arthritis, spinal hardware, or your body size
- You simply want to know your fracture risk and take preventative action before a problem develops
If any of this applies to you, understanding your bone health status is one of the most important and easiest things you can do for your long-term strength and independence.
A Smarter Way to Measure Bone Health
REMS (Radiofrequency Echographic Multi-Spectrometry) is a ground-breaking technology that measures your bone density and bone strength using safe ultrasound signals; no X-rays, no radiation.
Unlike traditional DEXA scans, REMS sends radiofrequency ultrasound waves into the bone and analyses the “echo” that comes back. This tells us not just how dense your bones are, but how strong and structurally sound they are. Something DEXA alone can’t measure.
In your scan, we assess:
- Bone Mineral Density (BMD) – how much bone mineral you have
- T-score & Z-score – how your bone density compares to a healthy young adult, and to people your own age
- Fragility Score – a unique measure of bone quality and microarchitecture, independent of density
- 5-Year Fracture Risk – combining your density and fragility results into an overall risk category
- Body Composition – fat/lean mass and metabolic indices from the same scan
The Advantages of REMS
No Radiation, Ever: Completely radiation-free, making it safe for repeated monitoring over time. An important consideration if you need regular scans to track treatment or bone health changes.
More Accurate for Many Patients: Research shows REMS may give more reliable results than DEXA for people with osteoarthritis, spinal or bone artifacts, or a low or high BMI, which are all situations where DEXA accuracy can be compromised.
Not Affected by Your Position: Our technician simply needs to position the probe correctly. You don’t need to hold a specific, sometimes uncomfortable position for accurate results.
A More Complete Picture: REMS is the only technology to give you a Fragility Score alongside your density results. This assesses the microarchitecture of your bones to provide a quantitative score on your bone strength. Research shows this can be an even better predictor of fracture risk than bone density alone.
Highly Accurate & Reproducible: Studies comparing REMS to DEXA show over 90% diagnostic alignment, making REMS a trusted, TGA-approved method for tracking your bone health over time.
Sources: TGA/ARTG Certificate; Pisani et al. 2023, Aging Clin Exp Res; Cortet et al. 2021, Bone; Di Paola et al. 2019, Osteoporos Int; Fuggle et al. 2024, Aging Clin Exp Res.
Simple, Fast, and Comfortable
- Book online – choose a time that suits you, no referral needed
- Arrive and get comfortable – you’ll lie down for the scan; our technician applies ultrasound gel and positions the probe over your hip and lower spine
- The scan itself – quick, painless, and radiation-free. Appointments are 30-45 minutes to allow for repeat scans if necessary.
- Get your results explained – we walk you through what your numbers mean in plain English, not just clinical jargon
- Take home your report – a full report plus a summary letter is provided so you (and your GP) have a clear record
Your Results, and What Happens Next
Getting your results is just the first step. We recommend discussing them with your GP or specialist to understand what they mean for your overall health and fracture risk. Every REMS report we provide includes a summary letter to make that conversation easier.
The Balmain Advantage: Everything Under One Roof
If your results show reduced bone density, a raised fragility score, or an elevated fracture risk, you don’t need to wait for a referral elsewhere. Balmain Sports Medicine brings together:
…all in the same practice conveniently located in Balmain. So, if you need a bone-strengthening exercise plan, medical management, or further specialist input, we can start that conversation immediately, without the run-around.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
For most people, both are highly accurate. However, REMS may give a more reliable reading for people with osteoarthritis, calcifications, bone artifacts, or a low/high BMI; situations where DEXA accuracy can be reduced. Both are TGA-approved and measure BMD, T-score and Z-score at the same key sites (hip and lower spine).
Yes. REMS uses ultrasound, not X-rays, so there is no radiation exposure — making it safe for regular, repeated monitoring.
Your report includes a T-score (comparing you to a healthy 30-year-old), a Z-score (comparing you to people your own age), and a Fragility Score (a measure of bone quality). A T-score above -1.0 is considered normal, -1.0 to -2.5 indicates osteopenia (low bone mass), and below -2.5 suggests osteoporosis. We’ll explain exactly what your individual results mean during your appointment.
It’s a unique measure, separate from bone density, that estimates the strength and quality of your bone’s internal structure. Research shows it can be an even better predictor of fracture risk than density measurements alone.
Yes, T-scores, Z-scores and diagnoses are standard clinical measures every GP and specialist will recognise. For the Fragility Score, which is newer, we provide a full summary letter with every report to support their interpretation.
We recommend sharing your report with your GP or specialist to get a clinical interpretation specific to your health history, and to discuss your personal fracture risk. If your results indicate a need for a strengthening or treatment plan, our in-house team can help you get started straight away.
As a general guide: every 2–3 years if your bone density and fragility score are normal; every 1–2 years if you have osteopenia or a higher-than-expected fragility score; and annually if you have osteoporosis or a high fragility score. Your clinician may recommend a different schedule based on your individual circumstances.
A referral is not necessary however we do accept a doctor’s referral (stating BMD analysis via REMS). The REMS findings represent a clinical report and can be sent to your doctor for review upon completion of the scan. Please let us know your GP or Specialist details so we can send them your report.
REMS scans are $225. Unfortunately, at this stage REMS is not covered under Medicare, but stay tuned as this may change in future.
At this stage, we do not have Private Health item numbers to claim with Private Health companies, but some Insurance companies are starting to provide rebates to clients, so you can try to submit your REMS receipt to them for consideration.
Appointments are 30-45 minutes to allow for repeat scans if necessary.
Take Control of Your Bone Health Today
A REMS scan gives you clear, accurate answers about your bone strength without radiation, without discomfort, and without a long wait for results.