Dr. Scott DelMedico has attained his certification in needle electromyography (EMG).  He is fully licensed to order, perform, and interpret these highly sensitive and useful tests.  He typically performs these tests in our office at 2709 Genesee Street.

Electromyography (EMG) - Measuring How Well Nerves and Muscles Communicate

Electromyography measures the electrical impulses of the muscles at rest and when contracted. Electromyography is usually done with nerve conduction studies. Nerve conduction studies measure how well individual nerves transmit electrical signals to the muscles.

Electromyography is done to:

• Diagnose diseases that damage muscle tissue, nerves or the points where nerve and muscle join. These disorders include a herniated disc , amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or myasthenia gravis.

• Find out the cause of weakness, paralysis, involuntary muscle twitching or other symptoms. Problems in a muscle, the nerves controlling a muscle, the spinal cord or the brain can all cause these kinds of symptoms.

Electromyograms are useful in determining whether there has been pressure on a nerve or nerve root degeneration.

A nerve conduction study is usually done along with electromyography (EMG). The nerve conduction study stimulates specific nerves and records their ability to send the impulse to the muscle. The study can show where there is a blockage of the nerve pathway.

Nerve conduction studies are done to:

• Find and evaluate damage to all the nerves that lead away from the brain and spinal cord to the smaller nerves that branch out from them

• Help diagnose nerve disorders, such as carpal tunnel syndrome or Guillain-Barré syndrome

• Find the location of abnormal sensations, such as numbness, tingling or pain