EMG & Nerve Conduction Study

A nerve conduction study measures how quickly and strongly electrical signals travel along your nerves. An EMG records the electrical activity inside your muscles at rest and while they tighten. Performed together, these tests show whether a problem lies in the nerves, the muscles, or the connection between them, helping to pinpoint the cause of your symptoms.

These tests help find the cause of symptoms such as numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, cramping, or pain. They can support the diagnosis of conditions affecting the nerves or muscles, including trapped nerves like carpal tunnel syndrome, nerve damage in the limbs, and disorders of the muscles themselves, and help guide treatment and monitor how a condition changes over time.

On the day, keep your skin clean and avoid creams or lotions, as they can interfere with the sensors. Wear loose clothing that allows easy access to the area being tested. Tell your care team if you take blood thinners or have a pacemaker or other implanted device, and mention any bleeding tendency. Bring a list of your current medicines.

For the nerve conduction part, sensors are placed on the skin and brief, small electrical pulses are applied, which feel like a quick tingle or tap. For the EMG, a very fine needle sensor is gently inserted into a muscle to record its activity while you relax and then tense it. The whole appointment usually takes between 30 and 60 minutes.

You can normally return to your usual activities straight away, though the tested muscles may feel slightly tender for a short time. A specialist interprets the readings to judge whether your nerves are conducting normally and your muscles are responding well. The findings help locate and characterise any nerve or muscle problem, and your doctor will explain the results and discuss next steps.