Brochure: Refer Your Patients to a Trained Electrodiagnostic Physician Brochure for Printing-Template for Download

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A high-quality electrodiagnostic evaluation should include a thorough history, physical examination, and differential diagnosis. It should also involve both needle electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies (NCSs) done by a neurologist or physical medicine and rehabilitation (PMR) physician trained in electrodiagnostic medicine. The tests should be performed in real-time, with a technologist supervised by a neurologist or PMR physician. The evaluation should avoid unnecessary testing and excessive numbers of tests.<br /><br />A specialist in electrodiagnostic medicine can maximize their ability to consider appropriate differential diagnoses, perform the necessary tests, establish diagnoses, determine severity and prognoses, and assist in proper management. The American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM) promotes quality care for patients with muscle and nerve disorders.<br /><br />During the electrodiagnostic evaluation, the physician evaluates nerve and muscle function, providing valuable information about motor and sensory neurons, nerve roots, plexus, peripheral nerves, neuromuscular junction, and muscles.<br /><br />For patients with limb or spine pain, numbness, tingling, weakness, or conditions not improving with conservative measures, a needle EMG examination and nerve conduction studies can help diagnose focal neuropathies, polyneuropathies, motor neuron diseases like ALS, neuromuscular junction disorders, and myopathy. These tests can establish the cause of numbness, weakness, atrophy, and hyporeflexia/areflexia, and help distinguish between weakness and fatigue.<br /><br />For patients with mononeuropathy or radiculopathy, EMG and NCSs can change the diagnosis in over a third of cases. These tests can also confirm anatomical abnormalities found on imaging and help avoid unnecessary surgeries or incorrect surgical interventions.<br /><br />In summary, a high-quality electrodiagnostic evaluation involves a comprehensive assessment by a specialist trained in electrodiagnostic medicine using needle EMG and NCSs. These tests can provide valuable information to diagnose and manage various neurologic conditions.

Keywords

electrodiagnostic evaluation

needle electromyography

nerve conduction studies

neurologist

physical medicine and rehabilitation

electrodiagnostic medicine

motor neuron diseases

ALS

neuromuscular junction disorders

anatomical abnormalities

ncs

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis