Testing the arm with EMG plus a nerve conduction study (NCS) tells whether a nerve somewhere between your neck and fingertips is pinched or hurt, and how badly. The test is done, and the report written and signed, by a physician.
You get this test only if your physician orders it. Our staff books it and keeps following up, visit after visit, until the result is in your chart.
What is the nerve test of the arm?
Two parts in one visit. The nerve conduction study times how fast signals travel along the nerves of the arm. The EMG records a few muscles through a very thin needle. A physician runs both parts and signs the report.
Why would your physician order it?
Numb fingers, tingling or a weak grip after a crash can trace back to the neck, the elbow or the wrist. The test pins down the spot and how severe the damage is, so care lands where it is needed. It also gives your record a measured finding, not just a description of symptoms.
What does the test feel like?
First, small pads on the skin give quick electrical pulses along the nerve; each one feels like a brief snap. Next, a very fine needle is placed in a few muscles to record them; expect a pinch. You can usually drive home and carry on as normal.
How do you get ready?
Wear a shirt with loose sleeves, or one you can roll up past the elbow. Skip lotion on your arms that day.
What should you tell us first?
Let us know before the test if any of these apply to you:
- Blood thinners
- A pacemaker
- Skin trouble or swelling on that arm
How long does it take?
30 to 60 minutes.
What to remember
- It pinpoints the damaged nerve and grades the damage.
- Bare, lotion-free arms on test day.
- Mention any blood thinner or pacemaker ahead of time.
Show us you have it: Describe your outfit for test day that leaves your arms bare, and the lotion you will not put on. If any part is unclear, ask us to go over it again; there is no limit on that.
For the background on how the study works and what its results mean, see our main page on the EMG and nerve conduction study. Two common arm causes are carpal tunnel syndrome and cervical radiculopathy.
Other tests in the program
- Nerve test of the leg (EMG/NCS)
- CMAT (CardioMetabolic Assessment Test)
- Cognivue
- Kinetisense
- RQ (resting metabolic rate)
- VNG (balance and dizziness test)
This page belongs to the Gateway Midwest physician-directed physiotherapy program. On Natural Bridge Road, the physician who examined you signs each order, and no treatment runs without a physician on site.
Hurt in an accident? Start here.
You do not need a lawyer, a police report or a referral to be seen. Bring your symptoms and we will work out the rest.
Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Same-day appointments are often available for new accident and injury patients.