You are having these tests done when you have numbness, tingling, pain, weakness or muscle cramping/twitching in your arms, legs, neck or back. These tests are done to determine why you are having these symptoms and will help to find out if you have damage to your muscles or nerves.
It is a test that measures the electrical activity of muscles at rest and during contraction. A small, thin, sterile needle is inserted into several muscles. The number of muscles tested is variable. The skin is cleansed with alcohol prior to inserting the needle. A new needle is used for each patient. There may be a small amount of discomfort when the needle is put in. The doctor will look at and listen to the electrical signals that travel from the needle to the EMG machine, and analyze these signals. After this test, you may or may not have soreness or tingling in your muscles for 1-2 days.
This test shows how well the body’s electrical signals are traveling to a nerve. This is done by applying small electrical shocks to the nerve and recording how a nerve works. These shocks cause a mild, tingling feeling. A very low-voltage electrical current is used, and each stimulation is less than a split–second. The doctor may test several nerves.
The test will take anywhere from 20 mins to an hour depending on how many nerves and muscles are tested.