Electromyography and conduction studies

These studies are useful for determining whether there is muscle or nerve disease.

The test consists of two parts:

• During the conduction study, shocks are given through the skin to stimulate a nerve. This is to see whether the nerve is still able to give good signals.
• With a needle EMG, a muscle is pricked with a thin needle in order detect the electrical signals from this muscle. This allows us to see whether there is muscle or nerve damage.

Please keep the following practical information in mind for the test.

• Use of skin creme can interfere with a portion of the test. For this reason, we ask that you do not use any skin creme on the day of the test.
• If you wear either foot or lower legcompression stockings for fluid accumulation, we ask that you please wear those on the day of the test. Keep in mind that they will probably be removed during the test.
• We also ask that you wear warm clothes if it is cold that day. It can sometimes be difficult to interpret a portion of the test if extremities — especially hands or feet — are cold.
• If you take Mestinon for myaesthenia, and if you are coming in because of your myaesthenia, please take the medication 12 hours before the scheduled test’s start time.

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Neurology

Disorders of the nervous system

Latest publication date: 01/12/2023
Supervising author: Dr Aers Isabelle