Radius
Also called: forearm bone
What it means
The radius is the forearm bone on the thumb side, running from the elbow to the wrist, and its lower end is a common site for fractures.
Wrist fractures from falls often happen earlier than hip fractures and can signal weakening bone that deserves attention.
The radius is one of two bones in your forearm, running from your elbow to the thumb-side of your wrist. The narrower end near the wrist, called the distal radius, is a common site for fractures because it has a lot of spongy trabecular bone, which can become more fragile as bone thins with age.
Most radius fractures happen when someone falls onto an outstretched hand, often called a FOOSH injury. This is one of the three classic fragility fracture sites, along with the hip and spine, and it tends to occur earlier in life than hip fractures, sometimes serving as an early warning sign of weakening bone.
Because the wrist absorbs force differently than the hip or spine, some people focus on exercises that load the arms directly, like gripping exercises or weight-bearing activities through the hands and wrists, as part of overall bone health. Bone scans sometimes measure the 33% radius site when the hip or spine can't be measured. Your doctor can help you understand your personal fracture risk and whether wrist-specific precautions make sense for you.
The forearm bone near the wrist often fractures from falls, sometimes before hip fractures occur.
Where this leads
WordWant the bigger picture of the joint this bone forms part of? Wrist explains why this joint is often one of the first signs of weakening bone.
Where the Academy teaches it
This page is the short version. The lessons teach it in full, with the context around it and a quiz to lock it in.
Related words
The distal radius is the end of the forearm bone near the wrist, and it's one of the most common spots for a…
A Colles' fracture is a break in the distal radius, the forearm bone near the wrist, usually from falling onto an…
The ulna is the long bone on the pinky side of your forearm, stretching from your elbow to your wrist.
The wrist is the joint where the hand meets the forearm, made up of small carpal bones plus the ends of the radius…
Cortical bone is the dense, hard outer layer of bone that forms a protective shell and resists bending and twisting…
A DEXA scan is a low-radiation X-ray test that measures how much mineral is in your hip and spine bones, giving you…
Education only, not medical advice. Decisions about tests, medications and treatment belong with your own doctor. OsteoStrong does not diagnose, treat or cure any disease.
