Electromyography (EMG) Test in Chicago, IL

What is Electromyography Testing?

Electromyography, or EMG testing, is conducted by inserting small electrodes into your muscles to stimulate and measure their electrical activity in response. This testing measures the electrical activity during rest, slight contraction, and forceful contraction to determine the muscle’s ability to react to stimulus.

Who Should Have an EMG Test?

To provide the best possible care, your Suburban Orthopaedics doctor needs to determine the cause of your symptoms. The following symptoms warrant this diagnostic procedure:

• Numbness, tingling, the feeling of “pins and needles.”
• acute or chronic neck or back pain
• continuous pain
• loss of sensation
• burning pain
• weakness or atrophy
• difficulty with fine motor movements
• sharp, shooting, or radiating pain
• aching pain
• muscle spasms
• loss of muscle control
• hot/cold sensation
• gait or balance issues

These symptoms are your body’s way of telling you something is wrong. There are numerous reasons that you may be experiencing these symptoms. An EMG study is essential to help your doctor establish a proper diagnosis and create a treatment plan to target the cause of your symptoms. Contact us to learn more.

What Does Electromyography Testing Feel Like?

The EMG procedure is mildly uncomfortable. A small electric shock is applied to the nerves being tested, a sensation similar to the shock of static electricity. The test has two parts.

• First – The technician places sticky pads along specific sites of your arms or legs. A stimulator probe will be placed on top of your skin, and mild electrical impulses will be sent up the nerve pathway. This electric impulse excites the nerve, and an impulse then travels down the nerve to its muscle, which it contracts. The technician will record the electrical activity of your nerves.
• Second – a neurologist inserts a small needle into your muscle to provide important information about how your muscles and nerves communicate. This will also help differentiate between a muscle disorder and a nerve disorder.

The specialists at Suburban Orthopaedics in Illinois are skilled at performing EMG tests. No damage is done to the nerves or body by this investigation. The human body produces natural electrical currents to deliver messages from the brain to the other parts of the body. Injury, inflammation, disease, and other conditions can affect these naturally occurring electric currents. You can continue your medications as usual and resume normal activities directly after testing.

How Do I Prepare for an EMG Study?

Before your scheduled test date, please inform the staff if you are taking blood thinners, such as Coumadin, or have a pacemaker or defibrillator. The study will take 30 minutes to an hour to complete. Do not apply lotions or oils to your skin on your test date, and wear loose-fitting, dark-colored clothing.

What Happens During EMG Testing?

When you arrive at the treatment location, please check in with office staff to let them know you are there for your EMG study. One of our highly trained neurodiagnostic technicians will perform the test alongside a board-certified physician. The test is mildly uncomfortable. A small electric shock is applied to the nerves that are being tested. Once your test is completed, you can resume your normal activities.

EMG Nerve Testing in Illinois

EMG testing is an essential step in understanding what is causing your symptoms. Our specialists are skilled in administering these tests and analyzing the results. For more information, call Suburban Orthopaedics at 630-547-3711 or book an appointment online. We serve patients in Bartlett, IL, Elgin, IL, Schaumburg, IL, and Chicago, IL.