An electromyogram (EMG) is performed so we can measure the electrical activity of muscles at rest and during contraction. Nerve conduction studies measure how well and how fast the nerves can send electrical signals. Nerves control the muscles in the body by electrical signals (impulses), and these impulses make the muscles react in specific ways. Nerve and muscle disorders cause the muscles to react in abnormal ways.
Measuring the electrical activity in muscles and nerves can help find diseases that damage muscle tissue (such as muscular dystrophy) or nerves (such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or peripheral neuropathies). EMG and nerve conduction studies are often done together to give more complete information.
The nerve conduction study is performed by placing surface electrodes over nerves, usually in the arms and/or legs. The electrodes are used to stimulate the nerves and then record the conduction of the signal down the nerve to some other point. This can be done in several positions to help determine the site of nerve injury or disease which may be causing the patient's symptoms.
Why It Is Done
The nerve conduction test provides our physicians with information about the functioning of the peripheral nerves including both the type of dysfunction and the likely location of its cause. This can be used to help diagnose various diseases that impact the nerves. Some pathologies of the peripheral nerves for which work-up can include a nerve conduction test include peripheral nerve tumors, neuropathies, traumatic nerve injuries, nerve entrapments (such as carpal tunnel syndrome) and various diseases of the spine which involve the nerves as the enter or leave the spinal cord.
This procedure is available at our main Sarasota campus as well as our Wauchula and Arcadia locations.
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