2026 Workshop Handout Bundle-W124D Advanced Needle EMG

W124D Advanced Needle EMG - Alrajeh Benson Sawhney

Pdf Summary

This hands-on workshop teaches needle EMG of six less commonly examined but clinically valuable muscle targets: teres minor, serratus anterior, the upper, middle, and lower trapezius, and rectus abdominis. It emphasizes safe needle placement, surface landmarks, patient positioning, activation maneuvers, and avoiding adjacent muscles or body cavities.<br /><br />The muscles support evaluation of complex neuromuscular conditions, including axillary, long thoracic, and spinal accessory neuropathies; cervical and thoracic root lesions; shoulder-girdle disorders; and suspected ALS. Serratus anterior is particularly useful for distinguishing root-level from more distal lesions; its paralysis can cause scapular winging and difficulty pushing or raising the arm. Trapezius abnormalities may follow spinal accessory nerve injury, including injury during cervical lymph-node biopsy. Rectus abdominis sampling can help assess thoracic-segment involvement, while weakness may cause anterior abdominal-wall bulging.<br /><br />Key technical considerations include positioning patients to expose each target and using specific maneuvers to confirm muscle activation. Needle placement must avoid common sources of error: entering neighboring muscles around the teres minor, serratus anterior, and trapezius, or penetrating too deeply into the abdominal cavity when examining rectus abdominis. Care is also needed to avoid the posterior aponeurosis. The workshop aims to improve clinicians’ confidence and diagnostic accuracy when these muscles are needed in real-world EMG assessments.

Keywords

needle EMG

serratus anterior

trapezius

teres minor

rectus abdominis

scapular winging

spinal accessory neuropathy

axillary neuropathy

thoracic root lesions

muscle activation maneuvers