Understanding
EMG/NCV Study
Understanding EMG/NCV Study
An EMG/NCV study is a set of tests that evaluate the health of your muscles and the nerves
that control them. It consists of two main parts:
EMG (Electromyography)
This test measures the electrical activity in your muscles. It helps detect how well your muscles respond to signals from your nerves and can identify problems in the muscles themselves.
NCV (Nerve Conduction Velocity)
This test measures how fast electrical signals move through your nerves. It helps determine
if there are any issues with the nerves that carry signals to and from your muscles.
Conditions that an EMG/NCV study can help diagnose include
- Nerve disorders: Such as carpal tunnel syndrome, peripheral neuropathy, and radiculopathy (pinched nerves).
- Muscle diseases: Like muscular dystrophy, polymyositis, or other conditions causing muscle weakness.
- Neuromuscular junction disorders: Including conditions like myasthenia gravis.
- Motor neuron diseases: Such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).