Electrodiagnostic Medicine
Electrodiagnostic Medicine | Specialist in Des Moines
The Iowa Clinic Electrodiagnostic Medicine Department examines the neurological causes of numbness, tingling, pain, weakness, fatigue, and muscle cramping. Several types of tests are used to study nerve and muscle function. These usually include nerve conduction studies (NCS) and electromyography (EMG). When undergoing electrodiagnostic testing, the specialist is looking to see if patient’s nerves and muscles are working correctly. Patients might have problems in one or many parts of the body. These evaluation tests are given to help the physician locate the problem and recommend the best method of treatment.
The doctors performing these tests have specific backgrounds as neurologists or physical medicine and rehabilitation. When being sent to the electrotromyography (EMG) lab to test for the above described tingling or numbing sensations; the doctor will administer a needle EMG or NCS's (nerve conduction studies). NCS's testing will show how well the body's electrical signals are traveling to the nerve by applying small electrical shocks to the nerve and recording the nerve's behavior. A needle EMG requires a thin needle put into several muscles to see if there are any problems.
