Electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction velocity (NCV) are electrodiagnostic tests that measure the electrical activity of muscles and nerves. These tests may be an important part of a spine patient’s work-up by their doctor.
Besides back pain or neck pain, some patients with a spine-related problem report unexplained symptoms, numbness and/or tingling sensations, muscle cramping, or weakness in an extremity (e.g., one or both arms, legs). EMG and NCV join forces to help find the underlying cause of why those symptoms are occurring.