HWN Suggests

American Academy of Clinical Electrodiagnosis

I went to the neurologist today for an EMG (electromyography) and NCS (nerve conduction study). The purpose of these procedures was to test for, and document, neuropathy...

The nurse conducted the NCS first. They stick various sensors on to you and zap you in places with electricity to measure how long it takes the electricity to travel down your nerves to the sensor they placed on you.

It hurts.

In reading about the test beforehand, people likened it to a static electricity shock that you get in the winter. Ummm…not quite. A lot worse.

One time when I was teaching chemistry, I was demonstrating to my students how to use a conductivity tester. Like a dummy,…

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Featured

 Coming Soon: Workout Gear that Monitors Your Muscles

Typically, EMG is used by doctors, physical therapists, and professional athletes. Jayalath and Wiebe have spent the last several years figuring out how to make the tech useful for the average person, and how to incorporate it into something they wouldn’t be mortified to wear to the gym.

 Neuropathy testing – EMG, NCS & a very frustrating experience with a doctor

Then the doctor came in to do the EMG. He introduced himself, talked about what he was going to do – explained why it’s not that bad. He said the needles were very thin – like acupuncture – and that it’s much easier than drawing blood because it goes into the muscle and any part of the muscle will do.

 New Method Diagnoses Chronic Unexplained Nerve Pain

I embarked on an original course, one I knew some of my colleagues might think was a radical departure. I began using the EMG in a new way. Instead of having the patient lie still while the test was being done, as is standard procedure, I had the patient assume different positions, especially painful ones, and tested nerve conduction in each of them. I also tested nerve conduction in positions that are part of a good physical exam. Then I wrote up the significant results of how these investigations lead to diagnosis in a book called “Functional EMG: Provocative Maneuvers in Electrodiagnosis,” recently published by Springer.

 This is what an EMG test is like!

Hi everyone...if you are going to have an EMG test...I would like to let you know what it felt like to me...I had one yesterday, and I was worried that it would hurt...So here goes…

 What is an EMG test?

Sometimes EMGs are thought to be a treatment of some sort, or a type of acupuncture. This is not true; an EMG is only a test, much like an EKG or an X-ray are tests and not treatments.

Articles of Interest

Electrodiagnosis

There are several procedures that fall under the rubric of “electrodiagnosis”. These include electromyography, nerve conduction studies (including late potentials) and evoked potentials.

EMG Testing: A Patient's Guide

There are two parts to EMG testing: a nerve conduction study and a needle exam for muscle testing. Both may result in some discomfort, but are usually well tolerated without the need for medication beforehand.

Journal of Electromyography & Kinesiology

Journal of Electromyography & Kinesiology is the primary source for outstanding original articles on the study of human movement from muscle contraction via its motor units and sensory system to integrated motion through mechanical and electrical detection techniques.

TeleEMG

TeleEMG is the web's largest source of online EMG and Nerve Conduction education. With a web presence since 1996 and thousands of unique visitors daily, TeleEMG is the oldest and best established resource for instant online access to high quality educational material in the fields of EMG and Nerve Conduction Studies on the web.