In early 2026 I was called in for my second DEXA scan, 3.5 years after my first one.*

It took six weeks for me to get sight of my results – but finally, a letter landed on my doorstep.

Spoiler alert: I was delighted.

For those who don’t know my story, here’s a bit of context. Four years ago, on a quiet Sunday evening in April, I tripped over my own trousers at home, falling and breaking both my wrists. As a result of this I was referred for a DEXA scan which took place two months later. Two months later, in August, I received a phone call from a nurse who talked me through the results, explaining that they were “in the region of osteoporosis.“

Not surprisingly this information felt utterly devastating. I was 56 years old and fitter and healthier than at any time in my life. Following an unrelated health crisis a decade earlier I’d been through a huge career change and was finally getting my life on track. Prior to my accident I’d been teaching regular yoga classes and steadily building my clinical hypnotherapy practice. Now, however, I was not only recovering from two broken wrists, but had been told that my entire skeleton was crumbling. 

I’ve shared elsewhere how I responded to the news (once I’d stopped crying!) and how that led me to the functional movement programme that I’ve been teaching for the past few years.

What exactly is a DEXA scan?

A DEXA scan measures bone density by passing a low frequency x-ray beam through the skeleton, usually at three specific points: the lower spine, and two points on the hip on the non-dominant side (usually less strong than the dominant side).

The results are compared with the average bone density of a healthy adult of the same sex at age 30 (we all start to lose bone density in our mid 30s). These scores, are expressed as numbers, known as T-scores, where +1 to -1 is considered “normal” (for that hypnothetical 30 year-old). A T-score of -1 to -2.5 indicates low bone density, (technically classified as osteopenia) and a score of -2.5 or less is taken to represent osteoporosis.**

In 2022 my results were as follows: spine: -3.2, femoral neck (top of thigh bone): -3.1, total hip: -2.7 – all of which are classified as osteoporosis.

The nurse who gave me these results told me: “It’s not possible to improve bone density. All you can try to do is slow the decline.” (You can read my thoughts about that powerful – and unhelpful – suggestion here.)

In line with both this statement and NHS protocol, she went on to offer me alendronic acid, a bisphosphenate shown to slow the rate of bone density loss – but not to help re-build bone. After taking time to read up about this class of drug and alternative approaches, I declined it.

DEXA results 2026

So what did my 2026 scan show? (Drum roll, please!)

Spine: -2.1, femoral neck: -2.6, total hip: -2.1.

Not only have all three measurements improved, two of them are now classified as osteopenia, and the one that is still osteoporosis is only just over the line.

It’s important to note here that while DEXA scans are currently the “gold standard” for measuring bone density, there is a lot of discussion about how reliable they actually are. The official NHS advice to use the same machine in the same hospital for each scan appears to support these concerns. I checked, and both my scans were done on the same machine, but my research indicates that even when this is the case, a slight difference in the angle of the x-ray beam can apparently affect the results. 

My GP has asked me to come in to discuss the results, though the next available appointment is six weeks away. I’m curious to hear her perspective, and I’ll report back. 

Meanwhile, I am thrilled with the results, which have reinforced my determination to continue with all the changes I have made over the past 3 years to support my long term bone health. In my next blog I’ll share exactly what those have been. But for now, I’m going to get out in the wonderful spring sunshine to boost my Vitamin D levels and celebrate not being quite as decrepit as I feared! 

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*If I had followed official NHS advice (explained in more detail later in the blog) I would have been recalled after a five-year treatment plan. Because I opted not to take the recommended drugs, the recal period is three years.

**If you’re wondering how these cut off points were decided and how big a deal a diagnosis of osteopenia is, that’s a great question and one I don’t have room to go into here. This article provides some illuminating background.