![]() ![]() While the pain of the test is minimized by using a fine gauge needle, it still is a needle, and there is some amount of pain involved. In a typical study, 4 to 8 muscles are tested, and each muscle takes 5 to 10 seconds to test. Therefore, the EMG can give information about severity of injury as well as prognosis for recovery. ![]() EMG will only show an abnormality if there is damage to the conductor. It is typically thought that more severe injuries include damage to the conductor and these are less able to heal. Also, if one thinks of a nerve as a wire with a conductor and an insulator, damage may occur to the wire, the insulator, or both. Therefore, if the injury has only been to the sensory portion of the nerve, the test will not be helpful. EMGs are only useful for testing injury to motor nerves or nerves that go to muscles. Nerve injury will create specific patterns of muscle abnormalities, and by testing several muscles, the physician is able to tell where the site of injury is located. ![]() In each session, several muscles are tested. Different circumstances may warrant other positions and the physician does his or her best to adaptable. In a typical study, the patient is laying down, usually on their back. ![]()
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