Electromyography (EMG) Testing

Assessing nerve and muscle health

At Reid Health, our electromyography (EMG) testing helps diagnose conditions affecting your nerves and muscles. EMG is a safe and effective procedure that evaluates the electrical activity of your peripheral nervous system.

By measuring nerve signals and muscle responses, our neurologists can identify causes of weakness, numbness, or neuropathic pain and develop a personalized treatment plan to improve function and quality of life. 

What is EMG?  

Electromyography (EMG) is a test that measures the electrical activity in your muscles and nerves. There are two main types of studies:

• Needle EMG: A small needle electrode is inserted into a muscle to record its electrical activity.
• Nerve Conduction Study (NCS): Surface electrodes measure the speed and strength of electrical signals between points along a nerve

EMG helps your neurologist detect abnormalities in how nerves and muscles communicate, which can guide accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Conditions diagnosed with EMG

EMG can evaluate a variety of neurological conditions, including:

• Polyneuropathy: Diabetic neuropathy, Guillain-Barre syndrome, and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP)
• Mononeuropathies: Carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome, and peroneal neuropathy
• Radiculopathy: Nerve compression from the cervical or lumbar spine
• Plexopathies: Disorders affecting brachial or lumbosacral plexus
• Neuromuscular Junction Disorders: Myasthenia gravis
• Motor Neuron Diseases: ALS and related conditions
• Myopathies: Muscle disorders causing weakness or fatigue

EMG results, combined with a clinical exam, allow our board-certified neurologists to determine the best course of treatment, which could include medications, therapy, or further interventions.