Introduction
Foot health plays an important role in how we move, balance and stay active. While many people visit a podiatrist for issues such as heel pain, bunions, flat feet, ingrown toenails or diabetic foot care, fewer people realise that podiatrists can also play a valuable role in identifying signs that may be linked to bone health.
Using your results to guide your next steps
Bone density testing, also called DEXA scans, helps assess bone strength and the risk of osteoporosis or fractures. When combined with podiatry care, bone density testing can provide a more complete picture of a person’s overall musculoskeletal health, especially for people at higher risk of falls, stress fractures or reduced mobility.
Podiatrists assess the feet, ankles and lower limbs. They look at how you walk, how your weight is distributed, your balance, your footwear, and any pain or changes in the structure of your feet. In some cases, recurring foot or ankle problems may raise questions about underlying bone health.
For example, a person who has repeated stress fractures, unexplained foot pain, poor balance, or a history of falls may benefit from further investigation. A bone density test can help identify whether low bone density may be contributing to these issues.
This is especially important for older adults, postmenopausal women, people with a family history of osteoporosis, and those who have had previous fractures. In these cases, early detection can support better long-term outcomes.
How DEXA Scans Support Podiatry Care:
A DEXA scan is a low-dose imaging test used to measure bone mineral density. It is commonly used to assess osteoporosis risk and can help guide preventative health decisions.
For podiatry patients, bone density testing may be useful when there are concerns about:
- Recurrent foot or ankle stress fractures
- Increased risk of falls
- Reduced balance or mobility
- Osteoporosis or osteopenia
- Unexplained lower limb pain
- Poor healing after injury
- Changes in walking patterns due to weakness or pain
By understanding a patient’s bone density, podiatrists and other healthcare providers can make
more informed decisions about treatment, footwear advice, exercise recommendations and
referral pathways.
Foot Health, Falls and Bone Strength
Foot pain and poor foot function can increase the risk of falls. If someone also has low bone density, a fall may be more likely to result in a fracture. This is why podiatry and bone density testing can work well together, particularly for older adults or people with balance concerns.
A podiatrist may help reduce fall risk by improving foot comfort, prescribing orthotics, recommending supportive footwear, treating painful conditions and advising on balance or strengthening exercises. A DEXA scan can add another layer of insight by showing whether the bones may be more vulnerable to fracture.
Low bone density often has no obvious symptoms until a fracture occurs. This is why early testing can be valuable. If a DEXA scan shows osteopenia or osteoporosis, patients can take steps to support bone health through medical advice, nutrition, strength training, falls prevention and lifestyle changes.
For patients already seeing a podiatrist, this can be an opportunity to identify risk earlier and take a more preventative approach to health.
FAQs About Podiatrists and Bone Density Testing
Can low bone density cause foot pain?
Low bone density itself may not always cause pain, but it can increase the risk of stress fractures or fractures in the foot and ankle. These injuries can cause pain, swelling and difficulty walking
Book a DEXA Scan in Perth
If you are over 50, have known risk factors for bone loss, or have been advised by your GP to investigate your bone health, a DEXA scan is the most clinically reliable way to assess your current bone health and plan appropriate intervention.
Book your bone density scan at Perth DEXA Scan — visit perthdexascan.com.au or call us to speak with our team.
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