EMG and NCV Testing after an Accident or Injury

What are EMG and NCV tests? What do they stand for?

EMG is an abbreviation that stands for Electromyography. This is a test that determines the health of muscles and the nerves that help control them.

An EMG test measures the response a muscle has to stimulation from a nerve.

An NCV test can and usually is done at the same time as the EMG test.  NCV is an abbreviation for Nerve Conduction Velocity, also known as a nerve conduction study.  This test measures the health of the nerves that control the muscles.

Why are the EMG and NCV tests done?

EMG tests are done when someone shows signs and symptoms of muscle or nerve damage.  Muscle and nerve damage can occur from many different causes.

The main three causes can be grouped into genetic, chemical, or physical.  Some genetic causes are conditions like diabetes and thyroid disease.  Chemical causes involve medications such as cholesterol-lowering medicines, antibiotics, and excessive alcohol consumption.  Out of the causes mentioned, the most common cause is physical damage.  These physical causes include trauma and injury which commonly occur from auto accidents and work-related injuries.

What are some signs and symptoms of muscle and nerve damage?

Muscle and nerve damage is considered a serious injury because they both serve important roles in the body. Muscle damage can have many signs and symptoms. One of the major symptoms is experiencing pain. The pain can range from mild to severe. Difficulty moving the muscle or increased pain with movement is another common symptom. Weakness, soreness, and bruising are also common. Nerve damage has a wide range of symptoms similar to muscle damage. Sensations in the limbs or skin that feel like prickling or tingling may occur. Muscle weakness, numbness, or paralysis is also a possibility. Uncontrollable muscle movements or twitching has been experienced as well. If you suffer from any of the symptoms listed you should discuss them with your doctor. He or she will develop a plan of action to diagnose the cause and treatment options. One of the common testing methods is the use of EMG and NCV tests.

What kind of doctors do EMG and NCV testing?

In order to get an accurate test and, most importantly, an accurate test reading, a Neurologist that is certified by AANEM (American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine) should perform the testing.

Some states require doctors to have specific qualifications to perform EMG testing, and some do not. In these states that do not, any doctor can purchase an EMG machine and perform testing. This is extremely important in situations where an injury has occurred on the job or in a motor vehicle accident.

Are there any preparations necessary before the NCV and EMG tests?

Before having the test done, review all the medications you are taking with the doctor. Some routine medications need to be stopped for a short time before the test is performed. Also, review all your medical conditions with the doctor, such as an internal medical device you may have, if you are taking any blood thinners or if you have a bleeding or clotting disorder.

Take a shower or bath prior to the test to remove any dirt and/or oils from your skin. Do not apply any lotions or creams to the skin before the test. Once you are at the testing facility they will have you change into a hospital gown and lie down on a table.

What should I expect before and during the procedure?

Just before the test, the doctor or technician will place electrodes on various locations on your

skin, depending on where you are having the symptoms. The electrodes will vary from surface electrodes to needle electrodes, depending on your symptoms.  The surface electrodes stick to the surface of the skin and do not cause pain.  This type of electrode is used to do the NCV portion of the test.  The needle electrodes are small needles that are inserted into the muscle, similar to an injection.  This type of electrode is used to do the EMG test.

With the needle electrodes, you will have some soreness after the test.  Both types of electrodes are used as microphones.  They can detect the electrical activity within the muscles and nerves.  This activity is then transmitted to a monitor where it is displayed as waveforms.

The waveforms can be read and measured by trained medical professionals.  When the test is underway, the surface electrodes will transmit small electrical currents that may feel like a twitch or spasm.  The needle electrodes may cause slight discomfort until they are removed.  They are used to determine if there is any muscle activity when the muscle is at rest.   They will also determine how much activity the muscle has when slightly contracted.

During this process, the examiner may ask you to contract or relax specific muscles.  They may also ask you to change your position, depending on which muscles are injured.  The test itself usually lasts anywhere from 30-90 minutes.

What do an EMG and NCV test measure?

Our body controls our muscles with nerves.  The nerves send electrical signals to the muscles

during movement and at rest.  The EMG test measures the electrical activity within the muscle

while it’s moving and while it is at rest.  The NCV test measures the speed and effectiveness of

the electrical signal that the nerves are sending to the muscles.  These measurements help the neurologist determine the damage and the extent of the damage to the muscles and nerves.  These

tests can help determine if the damage was preexisting or caused by an accident or injury.

How long does it take to get the EMG results?

The EMG technician or doctor that is conducting the test will have a good idea of what the results are as soon as the test is finished.  However, in order to get a complete and accurate result, additional measurements and calculations must be done with the information that was collected during the test.  With that being said, your test results will not be ready for at least a couple of days.

Once the test results are completed they are not released directly to the patient.  Normally, the results are explained at a later office visit with the testing doctor.  If the testing doctor is not the doctor that requested the test to be done then the results are sent to the requesting doctor.

Once your doctor receives the results, he or she will compare the results to your symptoms and discuss the findings with you.  Your doctor will take all this information and develop a plan of care for getting you back on your feet.

What do the results of an EMG test mean?

Once the test is completed, and the results are obtained it will show a normal or abnormal test.

Normal results mean that the muscle or muscles that were tested did not show electrical activity while at rest, also normal activity when the muscle was contracted.  If the test was abnormal it will show up in two ways:

• One is by the muscle showing activity while it is at rest.
• The other is the muscle will show abnormal activity during contraction.

An abnormal EMG test could mean that there are muscle injuries and damage.  An NCV will also show a normal or abnormal result.

A normal result means the speed and strength of the nerve signals are in a normal healthy range.

An abnormal result means the speed and strength of the nerve signals are slow and weak.

An abnormal test is an indication of nerve damage.  It is also possible to have a normal NCV test and still have nerve damage.  If this is the case, further testing will be needed to determine the problem with the nerve.

An EMG test is a valuable tool used by trained medical providers to diagnose problems accurately. On its own, the EMG test is not an absolutely accurate way to diagnose a problem, but when the results of the EMG test are incorporated with other relevant health information, then an accurate neuromuscular diagnosis can be determined.

Why are EMG and NCV Testing Important After a Car Accident or Work Injury

If you are injured in a car accident or suffer from a work-related injury then having EMG and

NCV testing is essential.  EMG and NCV tests are referred to as objective medical testing.  Objective medical testing is considered the most reliable medical tests that can be performed.  Having an NCV, along with the EMG test, improves the accuracy of both tests.  This is very important mainly if your injuries occurred at no fault of your own.

As mentioned above, the EMG and NCV tests not only help diagnose injury but help determine the extent of the injury as well.  An EMG test is not an accurate way to diagnose a problem on its own.  When the results of the EMG test are incorporated with other important health information then an accurate neuromuscular diagnosis can be determined.

If you are involved in a lawsuit the EMG and NCV tests are invaluable. Having an attorney that is not only familiar with the tests but understands the language used in the results provided by the doctor.  Having a competent attorney that understands how to present the EMG and NCV results to a jury or insurance agency could mean the difference in ensuring you are properly compensated

Get Help Now - Call Experienced Doctor Near You for EMG/NCV tests

If you need a doctor who is an expert in EMG/NCV tests and specializes in treating auto accident, slip-and-fall, and work-related injuries, call 1-800-897-8440 today.