Electromyography, or EMG, is a test done to record the electrical activity within the muscles. It is usually performed when a patient is experiencing unexplained muscle weakness. If your patients are looking for an explanation for their muscle weakness, Resnick Electrodiagnostic Consultative Services can help assist with EMG testing in Nassau County.
How it Works
When performing an EMG, a needle will be inserted into the muscle. This needle serves as an electrode that tracks the electrical activity taking place within that muscle. The activity can be displayed visually as well as detected audibly through a speaker. In order to understand the results, numerous needles may need to be placed throughout the body. This is due to the large size of certain skeletal muscles. In addition to standing still, the patient may be instructed to move the muscle to stimulate activity. It is often the case that a nerve conduction velocity test will be done at the same time as an EMG. This test uses one electrode to stimulate a nerve electrically while a second electrode tracks the path of the impulse.
What Can an EMG Diagnose?
The conditions that an EMG can help diagnose include:
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Ulnar Nerve Entrapment
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Peripheral Neuropathy
- Sciatica
- Radiculopathy
- Polymyositis
If your patients are concerned about muscle weakness, EMG testing in Nassau County can help determine if any of these conditions are present.
Why Choose an Electromyogram
There is little to no risk that is associated with EMG testing. There are also minimum tasks that must be completed to prepare for the test. Certain conditions may be hard to diagnose based just on symptoms alone. An electromyogram can track what is going on in the muscles and help pinpoint the issue. Once the cause and conditions are identified, treatments can be put into action. At Resnick Electrodiagnostic Consultative Services, we want to help you and your patients, and we can offer EMG testing in Nassau County to do just that.