In reality, while an EMG test does involve needles and some discomfort, most patients find it easy to tolerate.
Studies find that people expect EMG tests to be more painful than they actually are. Whether EMG tests are painful is a topic of some discussion. You’ll be able to do whatever activities you had scheduled. There is no recovery time involved with either test. Your doctor will likely perform them during the same visit. In other words, the tests use electricity to help diagnose conditions that involve your nerves or your muscles. These tests are both part of a subspecialty of physical medicine and rehabilitation called electrodiagnostic medicine. This test looks at how well the electrical signals travel from your nerves to your muscles. It examines the electrical signals your muscles make-both when you’re using them and resting them.Ī nerve conduction study is similar to an EMG test, but slightly different. Types of Electromyography TestsĪn EMG test checks how healthy your muscles are.
If your doctor wants to see how the signals in your nerves and muscles are working, they’ll recommend you get an electromyogram (EMG) and nerve conduction study (NCS). Specifically, your nerves send signals to your muscles to tell them to move. Your muscles and nerves are full of electrical signals.
