Neurology New South Wales offers a full range of nerve and muscle diagnostic tests. Nerve conduction studies are special tests performed by our expert neurologists.
Nerve conduction studies are electrical tests that measure the electrical activity of muscles and nerves. They involve the stimulation of nerves along several points. Surface electrodes are used to deliver and detect electrical impulses. As your muscles react, they give off these signals, which can then be measured. A nerve conduction study measures how fast and how well the body's electrical signals travel down your nerves and help diagnose nerve damage or disease.
The nerves tested in nerve conduction studies are called peripheral nerves. They are the nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord carrying messages throughout the body. They allow us to receive sensory information, such as how an object feels when we touch it and control our muscles. If you need to do a nerve conduction study, Sydney is the right place to do it. At Neurology New South Wales our specialists perform nerve conduction tests, so contact us today to book yours.
Nerve Conduction Test Sydney
You may need nerve conduction tests if you have symptoms of a muscle or nerve disorder. These symptoms include:
Muscle weakness
Tingling or numbness in arms, legs, hands, feet, and/or face
Muscle cramps, spasms, and/or twitching
Paralysis of any muscles
For a nerve conduction study:
A patient sits or lies down on a table or bed.
Your provider will attach one or more electrodes to a certain nerve or nerve using tape or a paste. The stimulating electrodes deliver a mild electrical pulse.
Your provider will attach different types of electrodes to the muscle or muscles controlled by those nerves. The electrodes will record the responses to the electrical stimulation from the nerve.
Your provider will send a small pulse of electricity through the stimulating electrodes to stimulate the nerve to send a signal to the muscle.
Your provider will record the time it takes for your muscle to respond to the nerve signal.
Nerve conduction studies are safe and generally well tolerated. Patients can experience minor discomfort from the stimulation, and certain patients are more sensitive to the test. Long term side effects occur rarely, if ever.