Neurology – EMG/NCS Studies

A neurologist is a specialist concerned with diagnosis & treatment of non-operative disorders of the nervous system. These include dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, headache/migraine, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Guillain Barre Syndrome, vasculitis, & peripheral neuropathy.

In order to diagnose a neurological disorder, the neurologist may utilize electromyography(EMG) and/or nerve conduction studies(NCS) to measure muscle and nerve function. During NCS, mild electrical currents are applied to the skin on certain parts of your body. This is done to see how quickly impulses travel between nerves. EMG assesses muscle function. To do this, a fine needle is placed under the skin into the muscle being tested. The needle allows the electrical activity in the muscles to be measured. No electrical currents are applied with the needle.

Both EMG and NCS tests are outpatient procedures. They produce minimal discomfort and following the tests a patient can return immediately to his/her normal routine.