Electrodiagnostic Testing - Associates in Rehabilitation Medicine - Physical Therapy - Sports Medicine - Pain Management

What is an EMG test?
What is the purpose of this test?
What kinds of problems can these test find?
What does the test involve?
Nerve Conduction Studies (NCS)
Electromyography (EMG)
Evoked Potential (EP)
How long does the test take?
Are there any special instructions that I need to know about?
What happens after the test is completed?
Who performs these test?
What if I am nervous about the test?

	What is an EMG test?
	EMG stands for ELECTROMYOGRAPHY. This term is routinely used to describe specialized tests which involve electrical testing of nerves and muscles. The three most commonly performed electrodiagnostic tests are: Nerve Conduction Studies (NCS), Electromyography (EMG), and Evoked Potentials (EP).

	What is the purpose of this test?
	These tests are helpful in finding the causes of numbness, tingling, weakness, cramping, pain, or other loss of function. The doctor who performs and analyzes these tests can tell if your nerves or muscles are not working properly.

Most common problems that are evaluated by these tests include: pinched nerves in the neck or low back, carpal, syndrome, and other nerve injuries in the arms or legs. Other medical conditions that may involve problems with nerves and muscles include: peripheral neuropathies (nerve disorders), myopathies (muscle disorders), and other neurologic disorders. Whether your doctor think she may have a simple problem, or possibly a more serious medical condition, electrodiagnostic testing can be an important part of finding out what is wrong, and what to do about it.

	What does the test involve?
	Each test is tailored to find out precisely what your problem is and provide the answer that your doctor is looking for. Therefore, no two tests are exactly alike. The doctor who performs and interprets the test will determine which tests will be necessary to get the information that will be most helpful to you and your doctor.

NCS test how nerves function and can identify nerves that are not working properly. Nerves are stimulated by giving small electric impulses over the nerve while recording the nerve's response at a different location. Patients feel a very mild sensation like a static shock people often get in the wintertime. Sometimes the muscles will jump like they do when you have your reflexes checked. A small number of people feel a brief tingling sensation that may last for a few minutes once the testing is completed but the majority of people have no residual sensations at all.

The doctor performing this test will insert a tiny, sterile, disposable needle beneath the surface of the skin, into the muscle to be tested. This needle electrode records signals that are generated by the muscle being tested. The doctor is able to analyze these signals and determine if the muscles or nerves that supply these muscles are working normally or not. Most people experience a mild pinching, stinging, or cramping sensation when the needle is inserted into the muscle. Rarely do people feel any more than mild discomfort during this part of the test.

	Evoked Potential (EP)
	These tests are used to see how different neurologic pathways in the brain or spinal cord are working. Visual, sound, or sensory stimulations are given and the electrical responses from the brain or spinal cord (central nervous system) are measured by recorders that are attached to the scalp or skin with small amounts of paste that easily wash off with water.

	How long does the test take?
	Depending upon your specific problem and exactly what the doctor is looking for, and how much testing is needed to get the necessary information, your test may take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour or slightly longer. It is uncommon that a test will last much longer than an hour.

If you have uncontrolled bleeding or any serious medical problems, you should tell the doctor who is performing the test before any testing is performed. You should take all of your regular medication, including pain medications, before the test unless your doctor tells you otherwise or unless you have a neurologic condition called myasthenia gravis, in which case you should discuss this with the doctor who prescribed the medication you're taking before having any testing performed.

There are no restrictions on activity or eating before or after the test. There are no lasting after-effects, and the nerves and muscles being tested will not be damaged by the testing. If you have any progressive pain, swelling, or other undesirable symptoms that develop and worsen after the test is completed, contact the doctor who performed the test to discuss your situation in more detail.

The doctor who performs the test will analyze the test results. After interpreting the findings, a report will be sent to the doctor who referred you for the electrodiagnostic testing. These results will help your doctor (the treating physician) better understand your condition and will be helpful in finding the cause of your symptoms and the most effective treatment. Every effort is made to get the final report back to your doctor as soon as possible once the test is complete.

These tests should be performed by a licensed physician. Doctors who perform these specialized tests should have completed specialty training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Physiatry) or Neurology. Experience and training in performing these tests is a requirement for achieving Board Certification in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Neurologists who perform these tests should have additional training and certification in electrodiagnostic medicine or neurophysiology. Physicians who are board certified by their recognized specialty Board and who are also certified by the American Board of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine are generally considered to have achieved the highest degree of professional credentialing available in the specialty of electrodiagnostic medicine.

Most people are a little nervous about any medical test, particularly one that involves needles. The vast majority of people comment that the test wasn't as bad as they thought and they wouldn't have been so nervous if they had known just how simple and easy it is. The doctor who performs your test should be sensitive to your needs and concerns and should answer any questions you may have and address all of your concerns so that you may have the best possible outcome and experience with your electrodiagnostic test.

These answers are not intended to be a substitute for a detailed discussion between you and your doctor, or the doctor performing the test. If you have any other questions or concerns, you are encouraged to ask them at the time of your test.

To learn more, visit the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine at www.aanem.org.

Home Our Practice Sports Medicine Pain Management Patient Education Locations Contact Us Terms of Use
Services: Sports Injuries Pain Management Electrodiagnostic Testing Back & Neck Pain Work Injuries
In-Patient Rehabilitation Acupuncture Complementary Medicine