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 Hoffmann-Tinel.2 These test can be misleading with poor sensitivities and specificities. Unlike these subjective tests Nerve Conduction Studies and Electromyography (NCS/EMG) can provide a more objective manner of evaluating the median nerve through the carpal tunnel.3 Consider how the baseline pre-op to post-op findings might…

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 compromise? For this patient, the answer was something far less common—an idiopathic spinal accessory nerve injury. When this young man arrived in my clinic his left trapezius and sternocleidomastoid were atrophied, and he was unable to shrug his left shoulder (see pictures). Interestingly, although CN…

We are looking for highly motivated physical therapists to provide electrodiagnostic testing services. Therapists may be either ABPTS board-certified in clinical electrophysiology or interested in being trained in clinical electrophysiology and becoming ABPTS board-certified in clinical electrophysiology. Interested physical therapists ideally have at least 1 – 2 years of clinical experience and desire to pursue a specialization in clinical electrophysiology (Click here for additional specialty information); however, new graduates are encouraged to apply. Therapists must be highly motivated learners and confident presenters. Physical therapists will be required to travel to provide services at multiple clinics throughout the Southeastern United States.…

EMG Solutions was founded in 2003.  After 17 years in service with growth every year, we are filling our unique niche in the business/medical world. Realizing that many may not understand the what and why of what we do, we’d like to share a bit of the heart behind our business. Who We Are We are Doctors of Physical Therapy who have completed the additional education and training to become board certified in electrodiagnostic testing. This is no easy feat and we are proud of the hard work, long hours, and intense study we have accomplished. This means that we…

Recently a patient was referred to us with possible Lumbar radiculopathy. Emory Healthcare defines lumbar radiculopathy as a disease involving the lumbar spinal nerve root. This can manifest as pain, numbness, or weakness of the buttock and leg. Dr. Martinos performed an electromyograph (EMG) on the patient to learn more about the cause of this issue is. An EMG is defined as an electrodiagnostic testing technique. It is used evaluating and recording the electrical activity produced by skeletal muscles. When stimulating the fibular (peroneal) motor nerve with maximal recruitment, we should always have a greater amplitude at the most distal stimulation point. However, every now…