Electromyogram (EMG) And Nerve Conduction Studies

Electromyogram (EMG) And Nerve Conduction Studies
Test Overview
Why It Is Done
How To Prepare
How It Is Done
How It Feels
Risks
Results
What Affects the Test
What To Think About
References
Credits

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Test Overview

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An electromyogram (EMG) measures 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.

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Last updated:	July 29, 2008
Author:	Monica Rhodes
Reviewed By:	Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine, Colin Chalk, MD, CM, FRCPC - Neurology
Editors:	Maria Essig, Tracy Landauer

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