Runners, avoid stress fractures and muscle imbalances with a DEXA scan. Discover how this 6-minute body composition test can help you train smarter and stay injury-free.
Running is one of the most accessible and effective forms of cardiovascular exercise—but it’s also one of the highest-impact sports when it comes to your joints, muscles, and bones. Whether you're training for your first 10K or gunning for a marathon PR, subtle muscle imbalances and low bone density can lead to injuries that derail progress for weeks—or even months.
That’s where a DEXA Scan in San Francisco can make all the difference.
A DEXA (Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) scan gives you the most accurate snapshot of your lean mass, fat mass, and bone density, helping you run stronger, prevent injury, and train with precision.
Many runners focus on pace, distance, and VO₂ max—but ignore what’s happening beneath the surface. The most common issues that plague runners include:
These issues often go unnoticed until they result in stress fractures, chronic pain, or recurring injuries.
Running is a repetitive, single-plane motion. Over time, even a slight difference in strength or size between legs can lead to joint strain. A DEXA scan provides limb-by-limb analysis so you can correct these imbalances with targeted strength work.
Runners—especially women and endurance athletes—are at higher risk of bone density loss. A DEXA scan measures bone mineral density (BMD) and can detect early signs of osteopenia or osteoporosis, helping you take proactive steps before injury strikes.
Long-distance running can lead to muscle catabolism (muscle loss), especially if your training volume is high and your protein intake or recovery strategies aren’t dialed in. DEXA tracks changes in lean mass so you can adjust your nutrition and strength training accordingly.
Even lean runners can have hidden visceral fat—the type that wraps around internal organs and drives inflammation. Reducing this fat through diet and recovery strategies can improve metabolic health and endurance.
For maximum benefit, runners should schedule a DEXA Scan every month or every other month at minimum (Core Rule #1). This allows you to:
At Kalos, our DEXA Scan in San Francisco takes just six minutes (Core Rule #3). It’s non-invasive, safe, and not covered by insurance (Core Rule #2)—but it's an investment in performance that pays off long-term.
If you're serious about staying healthy and performing at your best, don't wait for pain or injury to strike. A DEXA scan will give you real, actionable data on your body composition and bone health—so you can train harder, recover smarter, and race stronger.
Take the guesswork out of your training. Schedule your scan at Kalos today and stay ahead of injury before it starts.
Bay Area residents trust KALOS to deliver results. We proudly serve the entire Bay Area including the following locations:
