Electromyography records electrical activity in muscle, while nerve conduction studies measure the speed and amplitude of nerve signal transmission. Together they identify nerve compression, injury, and the affected level.
Findings can distinguish acute from chronic denervation.
Alternative Names:
Electromyography, Nerve Conduction Study
Why it Matters?
These studies are among the few objective measures in radiculopathy claims, where symptoms are otherwise subjective. A normal study in a claimant reporting radicular symptoms undermines the claim, while a positive study localizing to a specific nerve root corroborates it. The distinction between acute and chronic denervation patterns is also useful, since chronic findings indicate a preexisting process.
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Frequently asked questions
What do EMG and nerve conduction studies establish?
Can they distinguish old from new injury?
