Electromyogram is defined as the electrical activity that occurs on the muscles when they are at rest and contraction. The system that records this activity is called electromyograph and this process is called electromyography (EMG). It is a neurological examination method that is based on examining and testing the electrical potentials of peripheral nerves and muscles. Your doctor will first ask questions to obtain information about your general health condition and basic complaints. This way, he/she gets information about your symptoms before performing the necessary examinations.

Your doctor may request some additional diagnostic tests as a result of the findings he observes after the examination. This examination is applied to patients with a preliminary diagnosis such as lumbar and neck hernias, muscle diseases, motor neuron disease, neuropathies, and nerve compression. The patient is informed before the examination and is advised to arrive with warm hands and feet and clean skin when making an appointment. They don't have to be hungry. Depending on the tests performed, it may take between 20 minutes and 1 hour. EMG (electro neuromyography) is an examination consisting of two parts. It examines muscles and nerves. In the first part; In the conduction study, it calculates how fast the nerves conduct conduction. A very mild electrical stimulation is given to the relevant nerve with the electrode placed on the muscles. It does not cause any harm to the patient.

This examination is not performed in patients with only a pacemaker because it may cause arrhythmia in the heart. In the second part, very thin, specially made, disposable needles are used for only one patient. The necessary muscles are entered and the activity of these muscles is checked. Needle EMG is performed only by a physician. In the needle EMG test, imaging is achieved with the help of thin-tipped electrodes pointed into the muscle. The examination may cause some discomfort to the patients. There may be bruising or bleeding at the needle stick site. It does not have any side effects. There is no electrical stimulation in this section. Caution should be exercised in those using drugs such as Coumadin.

WHAT ARE THE USAGE AREAS OF EMG?

Mononeuropathies Median nerve neuropathy at the wrist Proximal median neuropathy at the elbow Spinal neuropathy at the wrist Radialneuropathy Peronealneuropathy Femoralneuropathy Tarsal tunnel syndrome Facialtrigeminalneuropathy Polyneuropathies Motor neuron disease (ALS and its variants) Radiculopathies Plexipathies (brachialplexus, lumbosacralplexus) Proximal neuropathies (sciatic neuropathy)