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Electrodiagnostic examinations measure electrical activity generated by muscles and nerves, and the results of the tests help to diagnose the cause of various symptoms, including numbness, pain or weakness.
Patients having an EMG test may feel only brief and mild discomfort as the physician inserts a disposable electrode (tiny needle) into various muscles. The needles are used only to record electrical activity in the muscles and not to deliver any treatment. Using a video monitor and auditory signals, the EMG specialist can evaluate how the patient’s muscles are functioning.
During a nerve conduction study, the physician uses tape to apply tiny electrodes to the skin. By applying a brief and mild electrical stimulus to a specific nerve area, the electrodiagnostic specialist can determine whether the nerve is functioning in the appropriate manner. An evoked potential study is similar to a nerve conduction study, but may involve presenting a visual cue or auditory signal to the patient. By analyzing how the signal is conducted or processed by a nerve, the physician can determine how a nerve pathway is functioning.
Please visit the Health Library to learn about electrodiagnostic testing and the conditions it helps diagnose, including:
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease)
- Epilepsy
- Movement disorders
- Multiple sclerosis
- Nerve conduction
- Neurophysiology
- Parkinson’s disease
- Sleep disorders
- Spinal cord injury
- Stroke
