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Electromyography (EMG) and Nerve Conduction Studies /

What are EMG and nerve conduction studies?

Why would I need an EMG or nerve conduction study?

What happens during an EMG or nerve conduction study?

What are the problems with an EMG or nerve conduction study?

Diagnosis of Brain, Spinal Cord, and Nerve Disorders

Spinal Tap

Electroencephalography (EEG)

Electromyography (EMG) and Nerve Conduction Studies

ADDITIONAL CONTENT

Abortion is defined as the intentional ending of a pregnancy by surgery or drugs. Which of the following statements about abortion in the United States is most accurate?

Abortion is illegal during the 1^st trimester
Abortion is one of the most common surgical procedures done
Abortion is always unsafe, and complications are common
About 70% of pregnancies are unintended and result in elective abortion

Electromyography (EMG) and Nerve Conduction Studies

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The Manual's Editorial Staff

Last full review/revision Sep 2020| Content last modified Sep 2020

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EMG

Your brain tells your muscles what to do by sending electrical signals to them. The signals travel down your spinal cord and then through different nerves to your muscles.

EMG and nerve conduction studies are tests to see if you have muscle weakness or loss of feeling from an injury to your spinal cord, muscles, or nerves.

To do an EMG, doctors insert small needles into a muscle to record your muscle’s electrical activity when it’s resting and when it’s active
To do nerve conduction studies, doctors use skin sensors or needles to send small electric shocks through different nerves to see how well your nerves work

Doctors may do an EMG, nerve conduction study, or both if you have symptoms like tingling or muscle weakness. These symptoms can be caused by many problems in different parts of your body. An EMG or nerve conduction study can help your doctor tell if your symptoms are caused by nerve or muscle problems such as:

During an EMG:

Doctors put needles into your muscle
The needles are connected by wires to a machine that records your muscle's electrical activity while you move it and relax it

During a nerve conduction study:

Doctors put a sticky sensor on your skin over the nerve they are testing
They stimulate another part of the nerve with a small electric shock
A machine measures how fast the electrical signal travels down the nerve

The needles and electric shocks can be uncomfortable or hurt. You may have some bruises afterward.

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Electroencephalography (EEG)

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Overview of Brain Infections

Diagnosis of Brain, Spinal Cord, and Nerve Disorders

Spinal Tap

Electroencephalography (EEG)

Electromyography (EMG) and Nerve Conduction Studies

Tests for Brain, Spinal Cord, and Nerve Disorders

Tests for Musculoskeletal Disorders

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

Abortion is defined as the intentional ending of a pregnancy by surgery or drugs. Which of the following statements about abortion in the United States is most accurate?

Abortion is illegal during the 1^st trimester
Abortion is one of the most common surgical procedures done
Abortion is always unsafe, and complications are common
About 70% of pregnancies are unintended and result in elective abortion

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TOP

What are EMG and nerve conduction studies?

Why would I need an EMG or nerve conduction study?

What happens during an EMG or nerve conduction study?

What are the problems with an EMG or nerve conduction study?