NCV

EMG NCV Test is the short form of Electromyography tests and nerve conduction velocities.

The completion of the diagnosis of neuromuscular disease involves the ability of the physician to identify a specific defect in neuromuscular function. Sometimes the doctor may conclude that the functional defect, and the associated disease-through a physical examination, ordering to do a blood test or by observing the anatomy of nerves and muscles.

But sometimes, the doctor may need to evaluate in more specific and direct function of the nerves and muscles and the connections between them, through two complementary techniques-study examination of nerve conduction velocity (NCV) and electromyography (EMG Test).

Both tests, the NCV and EMG, are based on the fact that the activity of nerves and muscles produces electrical signals called action potentials. A nerve is a bundle of axons, cables that conduct the action potential of a nerve cell (or neuron) to another.

In a motor neuron (neurons connected to the muscle), the action potential travels to the muscle, which causes the release of a chemical called acetylcholine. Acetylcholine causes them to open small pores in the muscle, causing a flow of potassium and sodium ions pass through these pores, generating an action potential in the muscle leading to contraction.

During a review of NCV and EMG, these small events are amplified electronically to be displayed on the monitor like a TV show called oscilloscope, which may be accompanied by an audio system to hear the signals.

Although the NCV and EMG tests are valuable tools for physicians, they can cause some discomfort is the patients. Some people are uncomfortable or even feel EMG test painful , electric shocks NVC or penetration of the needle EMG. Young children may struggle during exams, making it difficult for physicians to carefully monitor the nerve and muscle activity. To minimize discomfort, local anesthetics can be applied to the skin – but these do not prevent muscle soreness during the EMG. Sometimes the sedative medication may be necessary to keep the child calm. Partly due to these factors, the NCV and EMG are usually applied when it is not possible to obtain accurate and detailed information from other diagnostic tests. For example, muscle biopsy (see, Examination of muscle biopsy) Can reveal precise anatomical details of certain neuromuscular diseases, making unnecessary an examination of EMG and NCV. Genetic tests available for diagnosis of some diseases, they also do that in these cases, the EMG and NCV is usually overlooked.

However, NCV and EMG tests are still highly needed to evaluate nerve and muscle function. So if the doctor suspects that your patient has a neuromuscular disease, and this is not clearly related to an anatomical defect or genetic (as in CMT, or myasthenia gravis), NCV and EMG may provide a valuable diagnostic tool.