Physicians have numerous diagnostic tools to help identify and diagnose neuromuscular injuries and conditions. While some tools, like X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs, are widespread and well-understood by the public, other tools, like EMG, are not as well-recognized.
An electromyography test is one of the most innovative tools for helping physicians diagnose specific musculoskeletal injuries and conditions. In combination with other strategies, this study can help medical providers identify injuries that affect muscles and the nerves that control them, opening the doors to treatment options that can help reduce pain and improve mobility.
What Is an EMG?
EMG stands for electromyography. An electromyography study is a diagnostic test that helps physicians identify and diagnose neuromuscular injuries or abnormalities. The test itself evaluates the function of skeletal muscles and the nerves that control those muscles by measuring the electrical activity in the muscles.
Electrical signals run the human body. Nerves send messages back and forth between the brain and other regions of the body, using the spinal cord as an information superhighway. Muscle movement happens when nerves send an electrical signal to a muscle. The signal tells the muscle what to do, and as a result, you can wave your hand or put one leg in front of the other.
When nerves are damaged or injured, the signals they send to muscles can be disrupted. Electrodiagnostic testing, like an EMG study, can help locate issues with motor nerves or muscles, locating communication issues between the two.
What Conditions Can an EMG Diagnose?
An EMG can help diagnose neuromuscular diseases, motor problems, and nerve injuries. It can also help physicians diagnose degenerative conditions affecting nerves or muscle movement. The test is often needed when a patient experiences unexplained numbness, tingling, muscle movements, or muscle weakness. Some of the conditions that an EMG can help a medical provider diagnose include:
- Sciatica
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Ulnar neuropathy
- Lumbar radiculopathy
- Cervical radiculopathy
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Upper or lower limb plexopathy
- Guillain-Barre syndrome
Medical providers may use an EMG study in combination with other diagnostic methods, such as imaging, blood tests, physical examinations, and medical history, to diagnose specific motor nerve diseases and injuries.
What to Expect During an EMG?
Often, an EMG is conducted following a nerve conduction study. During this procedure, a physician uses electrodes placed on the skin’s surface to deliver tiny electrical impulses to “shock” nerves and record the response.
An EMG is a complementary test that uses a thin needle attached to a cable. The needle gets inserted through the skin and into a muscle to measure electrical activity. When the needle is in place, a physician asks the patient to contract or relax the muscle. While performing these tasks, an electrode in the needle detects and measures the electrical activity in the muscle and records the results. The EMG readings can help tell a medical provider whether the muscle has abnormal electrical activity.
Since the EMG test uses a thin needle inserted through the skin and into a muscle, patients can experience minor pain and discomfort during the procedure. On average, the procedure takes 60 to 90 minutes. Side effects can include pain at the injection site and tenderness in the muscles tested. However, these side effects generally subside within a few days.
A nerve conduction study paired with an EMG can offer medical providers a wealth of information about the function of motor nerves, helping to rule out certain conditions and diagnose others.
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Long Island Spine Rehabilitation Medicine takes a holistic, whole-body approach to diagnosing and treating painful musculoskeletal injuries and conditions. We use innovative diagnostic tools and treatment options to help you manage your health.
Contact our office today to make an appointment. Our goal is to help you live a pain-free and active life.