Beyond the Muscle: How Electrodiagnostic Testing Expands the PT’s Role in Patient Care
By Drayton T. Perkins, PT, DPT, ECS | EMG Solutions Most physical therapy students begin their training focused on the world of orthopedic movement and musculoskeletal mechanics. They learn how muscles, joints, and connective tissues interact and what happens when those systems break down. But sometimes, what looks like an orthopedic problem actually starts somewhere […]
Understanding ALS and the Role of Nerve Conduction Studies in Diagnosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease that affects motor neuron nerve cells that are responsible for controlling voluntary muscle movement. As these motor neurons deteriorate and die, the muscles they control begin to weaken, twitch, and eventually waste away (atrophy) due to loss of nerve input. ALS is progressive, meaning symptoms worsen over […]
WHO IN THE WORLD THOUGHT ALL THIS UP?
As I have had the opportunity to perform EMG and Nerve Conduction Studies over the past several years, I am often in awe of how all of this could have come to be. Who thought it would be good idea to stick a needle into someone’s muscle and did they really think they would hear […]
How can the EMG exam be normal when I have radiating back pain?
Lumbar radiculopathy, a prevalent neurological condition, is characterized bycompression or irritation of a spinal nerve root. This condition often manifests asradiating leg pain, motor weakness, sensory disturbances, and diminished reflexes.Accurate diagnosis is essential for appropriate management, and electrodiagnosticstudies—particularly needle electromyography (EMG)—are commonly employed toevaluate suspected cases. While EMG is a useful tool in confirming lumbarradiculopathy, […]
My Muscles are Twitching: When Should I be Concerned?
I often get muscle twitching in random muscles, at random times. It might be in my right triceps one day, in my left quadriceps the next, and then in one of my hands. It normally lasts from a few second up until a few hours at a time. This has always been concerning to me. […]
EMG Solutions Partners with ABPTRFE to Advance Physical Therapist Education
EMG Solutions continues to look for ways to maintain its position as a leader in field of clinical electrophysiology. Currently, EMG Solutions is working with the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE) helping to develop a new innovative program model in Physical Therapist Education. “The Integrated DPT-Residency Pilot encourages partnerships between […]
Why Can’t I Lift My Foot: When Gravity Wins
Foot drop—when you suddenly cannot lift the front of your foot—can be alarming. This condition often leads to an increased fall risk as well as an unusual gait pattern where one has to lift the knee higher to avoid dragging the foot, known as a “steppage gait.” But what exactly is happening when you lose […]
How Painful is a Needle EMG exam? It depends on…
This blog post is intended for anyone who has been recommended to have a needle EMG exam that ispart of a “nerve test”. The information contained can also be helpful for health care professionals whorecommend their patients to have an electrodiagnostic examination. I have been performing needle electromyography (EMG) exams for over 20 years. I […]
Comparing Electrodiagnostics (EMG/NCS) to Magnetic Resonance Imaging for the Evaluation of Lumbosacral Radiculopathy
Low back pain and lumbar radiculopathy are common conditions affecting the general population. Low back pain has a prevalence of 10%-30%, and lumbar radiculopathy, with a prevalence of 3%-5% [1]. Differentiating between low back pain and lumbar radiculopathy can be tricky as low back pain is often used to describe a variety of conditions from […]
Can an EMG/NCS help diagnose the cause of weakness following a stroke?
Strokes are relatively common, affecting millions of people each year. In the UnitedStates, for instance, about 795,000 people have a stroke annually, making it the fifthleading cause of death. A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain isinterrupted or reduced, preventing brain tissue from getting oxygen and nutrients. Thiscan lead to […]
