measuring wrist size to determine small, medium or large boned.

[montieth]

I have been reading that DEXA scores should be interpreted differently for people with smaller frames and it can be determined by measuring your wrist. Can anyone tell me what the various wrist sizes indicate and how to adjust the DEXA scores?

[Met00]

There's a good chart here that tells you how to use wrist size (combined with height) to determine body frame size: medlineplus.gov/ency/imagep...

I don't think there's any way that bone size can be used to adjust DEXA scans though. It's simply a case of being aware that if you have a small frame, DEXA is likely to underestimate your bone density (so may suggest you have osteoporosis when you don't), while if you have a large frame, DEXA is likely to overestimate your bone density (so may suggest your bones are healthy when they aren't). Unfortunately this isn't taken into account when calculating fracture risk.

[montieth in reply to Met00]

Thanks, that does help to know if one is small, medium or large boned. Does anyone know how this effects DEXA scans?

[Met00 in reply to montieth]

It's probable that DEXA scans will underestimate your bone density if you're small boned, and overestimate it if you're large boned. But they don't take account of this when working out your fracture risk.

[lilo789]

sciencedirect.com/science/a...

[karmel]

Women:

Height under 5'2"

Small = wrist size less than 5.5"

According to this chart I am not small boned because my wrist size is not less than 5.5" but I am under 5' and my weight is 95 pounds and I am medically classified as being small boned - so I don't think that measuring your wrist can always accurately determine whether you are small, medium or large boned - perhaps your hip measurement should also be taken into determining your bone size.

[Met00 in reply to karmel]

I guess wrist size is usually more accurate, because fat deposits are minimal at the wrist. My hips are probably average, but I have a lot of fat there relative to the rest of my body!

[karmel in reply to Met00]

Very good point, I hadn't thought about that, but I don't think there should be any hard and fast rule about going on one particular measurement as we are not all the same.

[Met00 in reply to karmel]

I agree. Like so much, it's a useful guide; this is one method of estimating bone size, which should be considered when interpreting DEXA results.

[karmel in reply to Met00]

afraid it is often a "one size fits all" measurement

[Met00 in reply to karmel]

And the evidence that this often isn't appropriate somehow never seems to reach those who are making the decisions about diagnosis and treatment!

[karmel in reply to Met00]

This if why so many of us with op turn to forums for help and advice. I have always been very grateful for your advice and help Met00

[Met00 in reply to karmel]

And me too, for all I've learnt from others here and in a couple of other groups.