When the EMG Comes back Normal: What Else Could be Going On?
Several weeks ago I published a blog describing the kinds of neurologic disorders revealed by electromyography and nerve conduction studies (EMG/NCS) in patients who are suspected of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) on clinical grounds. In most of these patients, EMG/NCS serves to confirm the presence of median nerve pathology and to describe how severe it […]
An Electromyographer’s Look at Hereditary Neuropathy with Liability to Pressure Palsy
Hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsy (HNPP) or tomaculous neuropathy shares a molecular genetic relationship with Charcot Marie Tooth Disease type I (CMTI) in an autosomal dominant manner1. Most cases of CMT1A are caused by the duplication of 1.5mb in chromosome 17p11.2, while upwards of 85% of all HNPP cases are a result of […]
Taking the Mystery Out of an EMG/NCS Report – Part 2
In Part One of this article, I discussed the basics of nerve conduction studies and waveform analysis. In Part Two, I will cover principles of needle electromyography (EMG), specific diseases and injuries that relate to hand therapy, and how EMG/NCS findings relate to outcomes for certain injuries and surgeries of the upper extremities. The needle EMG examination is […]
If It Quacks Like a Duck…Is it Always a Duck? EMG/NCS Findings in Patients with “Carpal Tunnel” Symptoms
You’ve probably heard the expression, “measure twice, cut once.” Nowhere is that adage truer than in the field of medicine. Electromyography and nerve conduction studies (EMG/NCS) are part of the measurement process which helps physicians provide the most accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment for symptoms which can sometimes be rather vague. Take carpal tunnel syndrome […]
Suprascapular Nerve Compromise
Nerve conduction studies (NCS) and electromyography (ECS) help illuminate confusing neurologic cases and can pinpoint the origin of a problem. In this patient’s case it so happened to be from the suprascapular nerve. Going to a bar with a friend or loved one does not always go wrong but for this 42-year old man things […]
Sinus Tarsi Research
The providers at EMG Solutions are always striving to remain at the top of their field while providing ways to help the discipline as a whole. The following was original research performed by one of EMG Solutions’ own providers. This research was presented as a poster presentation at the American Physical Therapy Association’s (APTA) Combined […]
Taking the Mystery Out of an EMG/NCS Report – Part 1
I have been practicing clinical electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies (NCS) as a physical therapist for over 20 years and whenever I talk about it with other providers, their eyes begin to glaze over almost immediately. Their minds wander off to more pleasant experiences such as the beach, dinner and a movie or even […]
The “Ulnar Hand:” Three Case Studies
The human nervous system is an intricate thing, with nerve signals twisting and turning through structures called columns, roots, trunks, and cords on their way from the brain to the extremities and back again. As complex as this labyrinth is, in most people its twists and turns are nearly identical. This allows an electromyographer to […]
Results of a Carpal Tunnel Release Surgery
The most common cause for numbness, tingling, and pain of the hand is due to a compressed median nerve at or through the carpal tunnel.1 There are many clinical tests that can be performed to aid in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome, including the square sign test, carpal tunnel compression test, Phalen’s test, or […]
Shoulder Injuries in the United States Army
If I told you a healthy 28-year-old soldier had shoulder pain and could not raise his arm, what causes would come to mind? A rotator cuff tear? A frozen shoulder? Impingement? What would you think if I said he has noticed a protruding shoulder blade during pullups? A long thoracic nerve injury? A brachial plexus […]
