Questions about your EMG

A board-certified specialist performs the nerve conduction study and EMG, using modern equipment that typically minimizes or even eliminates the pain and discomfort often associated with older equipment and techniques.

Electrical stimulation is applied to the skin in short bursts and feels a lot like physical therapy stimulation or a TENS unit. At the end, a small wire is also used to “listen” to the electrical activity in the muscles. It is thin, about the size of an acupuncture needle. Both the stimulation and wire are usually very tolerable for most patients.

Please don’t wear lotion. Wear short sleeves or a tank top for arm studies, and loose pants or shorts for leg studies.

Yes. Blood thinners and pain medications are fine, and you don’t need to change anything before the study.

A typical appointment is about 45 minutes. You can drive and go back to work afterward.

The report is usually faxed to your doctor within 24 hours of the study.

Insurance usually approves EMG studies. Your cost depends on your plan, and self-pay options are available. Call us and we can help you find out.

An MRI shows what the anatomy looks like. An EMG shows how the nerves and muscles are actually working, so for peripheral nerve injuries it usually gives more accurate, more detailed information. In published studies, EMG was at least 96% accurate for detecting radiculopathy, and it typically costs a quarter to a third as much as an MRI.