What is EMG?

EMG is a test that looks at how muscles and nerves work together. Nerves carry messages to and from the muscles. If the nerves or muscles or the junction between the two are damaged, the muscles might not work properly.

EMG can tell the doctor:

  • If your child has a problem with the nerves or muscles or the junction between them
  • Why the muscles feel weak, stiff, or painful

What happens during an EMG test?

The test usually takes up to 30-60 minutes.

Your child will lie on a comfortable bed. The test has two parts, one testing the nerves and other testing the muscle.

  • Nerve conduction tests: in this test the doctor will apply stickers to different parts of hands and foot, and send a small electric current to look at how the nerves are working. The electric current is not painful, but can be slightly uncomfortable. It is often fun to see how the hand or foot twitches when this is done and the doctor may ask you while playing a game whether the hand moved or did you feel a weird current.
  • Electromyography: the doctor will put a very thin needle that looks like a wire into 1 to 4 different muscles. The needle will stay in each muscle for about 30 seconds. If your child can, the doctor or nurse will ask your child to relax the muscle and then tighten the muscle. The number of muscles the doctor will test depends on your child’s problem. The doctor and nurse will always tell you and your child when and where they will put the needle. Putting the needle in the muscles may hurt a little, just like it does when your child gets a regular needle. The doctor will try and use a cold spray to make it less painful, or may give some creams to apply to numb the skin.

In younger children, the doctor may give a sedative to start testing the nerves first as it is quite difficult to obtain accurate readings when the child is upset or refusing the test or moving frantically to avoid the test. Subsequently, he may wake up the child for the muscle testing or in most cases the child wakes up when the needle is inserted into the muscle.

After an EMG test

Your child can go back to her usual activities right away. The muscles that were tested might hurt a little for a short time after the test.

The doctor will take time to analyse the findings and prepare the report, this will be then given to you.