How NCS and EMG tests can help explain your symptoms
Do you feel tingling in your fingers, numbness in your feet, or muscle weakness that won’t go away? These symptoms can be confusing—but special tests called Nerve Conduction Studies (NCS) and Electromyography (EMG) can help doctors find out what’s going on.
At CMH Neurology and Headache Center, these tests are available close to home to help find the cause of nerve and muscle problems.
What are NCS and EMG?
These two tests work together to check how your nerves and muscles are working:
- Nerve Conduction Studies (NCS) test how fast and how strong electrical signals travel through your nerves.
- Electromyography (EMG) looks at how your muscles react when you move and when you’re at rest.
Doctors use these tests to find out if you have conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome, sciatica, nerve damage, or muscle disorders.
What to expect
The idea of having a test with electrical signals or small needles might sound scary—but most patients say it’s easier than they thought.
“People are often nervous at first,” says Rhonda McDaniel, NCS technician at CMH Neurology and Headache Center. “But once we explain what we’re doing, they feel better. The most common thing I hear is, ‘That wasn’t nearly as bad as I expected!’”
The test takes about 30 to 90 minutes, depending on how many nerves and muscles need to be checked. During the NCS, small sensors are placed on your skin, and a gentle pulse is sent through the nerve. For EMG, a thin wire is placed into a muscle to check how it reacts.
Finding the cause
These tests help people who have had symptoms like pain, numbness, or weakness for a long time. The results can show where the problem is—whether it’s in the nerve, the nerve root, or the muscle. Results are given to your referring provider to help decide the best treatment for you. That might include physical therapy, medicine, or seeing a specialist.
Could your symptoms be caused by a nerve or muscle problem?
Talk to your primary care provider to see if NCS or EMG testing is right for you. To learn more or make an appointment, call 417-327-3530.