Electromyography (EMG) & Nerve Conduction Study

Electrodiagnostic testing is frequently performed to evaluate for causes of weakness, numbness, or muscle twitching. EMG and nerve conduction studies are a useful tool to aid in the diagnosis of disorders that cause damage to muscle tissue, nerves, or the junctions between nerve and muscle.

Nerve Conduction Studies

Nerve conduction studies show how well the body’s electrical signals are traveling to a nerve. This is done by applying small electrical impulses to the nerve and recording the response in surface electrodes, which are small patches that are placed on the skin over nerves at various locations. These impulses cause a quick, mild, tingling feeling. The physician may test several nerves.

Needle EMG

For this part of the test, a small, thin needle is placed in several muscles. An electrode on the needle records the electrical activity given off by your muscles, and the physician will be able to hear and see how your muscles and nerves are working. There may be a small amount of discomfort during this part of the examination, but the physician will test only the muscles necessary to decide what is wrong.

At Neurological Specialties, we are pleased to have a full-time electrodiagnostic technologist that is credentialed by the American Board of Registration of Electroencephalographic and Evoked Potential Technologists (ABRET), the gold standard in electroneurodiagnostics.