Electromyography & Nerve Conduction Velocity Studies
Electromyography (EMG) is a diagnostic procedure to assess the health of muscles and the nerve cells that control them. EMG results can reveal nerve dysfunction, muscle dysfunction or problems with nerve-to-muscle signal transmission.
Benefits of EMG studies include, accurate diagnosis of neuromuscular conditions, differentiation between muscle and nerve disorders, localization of nerve damage, and guided treatment for better patient care.
Symptoms that may cause your doctor to consider obtaining an EMG study include but not limited to:
Numbness and tingling typically in the limbs
Muscle pain or cramping
Weakness or Fatigue
Difficulty climbing stairs
Frequent tripping and falls
Difficulty with balance and walking
How Does an EMG Work?
Motor neurons transmit electrical signals that cause muscles to contract. An EMG uses tiny devices called electrodes to translate these signals into graphs, sounds or numerical values that are then interpreted by a physician to formulate a diagnosis.
During a needle EMG, a needle electrode inserted directly into a muscle records the electrical activity in that muscle. A nerve conduction study, another part of an EMG, uses electrode stickers applied to the skin (surface electrodes) to measure the speed and strength of signals traveling between two or more points.
An EMG study is purely a diagnostic tool that has many uses. Based on different patterns of abnormalities, EMG studies may separate nerve and muscle diseases. In some cases, the findings identify the particular cause of the symptoms.