What will happen during electromyography? You may be given medicine to help you relax before the test. Do not apply lotions or creams to your skin on the day of the test. Do not have caffeine or smoke for 2 to 3 hours before the test.

You may need to stop taking blood thinners, NSAIDs, and aspirin 24 hours before the test. Your healthcare provider will tell you what medicines to take or not take on the day of your test.

Tell your healthcare provider if you have a pacemaker. Your healthcare provider will talk to you about how to prepare for your test. Together, these tests can help diagnose conditions such as muscular dystrophy, myasthenia gravis, and nerve disorders. An NCS measures how fast electrical activity travels through your nerve to your muscle. A nerve conduction study (NCS) is usually done at the same time as an EMG. An EMG will tell your healthcare provider how well your muscles and nerves work together. Your nerves send signals to your muscles to help them move. What do I need to know about electromyography?Įlectromyography (EMG) is a test that measures the electrical activity of your muscles. The patient's expectations regarding the test did influence anxiety levels and this may reflect generalized anxiety regarding testing procedures or misinformation regarding the nature of the test, as patients in general reported a better than anticipated experience following the test.Medically reviewed by. The information about EMG testing received by patients in this group did not affect pre-test anxiety levels. The degree or source of knowledge regarding the test procedure, did not affect the pre-test anxiety level. The likelihood of high anxiety was increased if the patient was worried about the test (p < 0.001) or about other issues unrelated to the test or underlying diagnosis (p < 0.001), or was taking an anti-psychotic or anxiolytic drug (p = 0.008). Thirty-five (44%) patients had a high pre-test anxiety level. Seventy-nine cases with ages ranging from 19-72 years (mean 43) were included. Emergency, hospitalized, and seriously ill patients were excluded. We evaluated anxiety levels of patients referred for EMG to explore the possible correlating and contributing factors to high anxiety.Ī structured questionnaire, including the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was completed by patients immediately before EMG testing. We frequently encounter patients who worry about its painful nature, but tolerate it very well. Electromyography (EMG) is a useful test, but unfortunately also painful.

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