Electroneuromyography (EMG and nerve conduction study)
Electroneuromyography (ENMG) records the electrical signals of your nerves and muscles. A working nerve carries an impulse at a set speed, and the muscle answers by contracting. The machine draws these signals as curves. From them the doctor sees where the signal breaks down. It may be at the root next to the spine, along the arm or leg, at the point where nerve meets muscle, or in the muscle itself. At Oberig Clinic the test is done in the neurophysiology room. A neurologist runs it and explains the results to you.
What the test shows
MRI and ultrasound show what a nerve or the spine looks like. ENMG shows how the nerve works. It answers questions scans cannot. Is the nerve damaged? How badly? Is the damage old or recent? Is it healing? The doctor measures how fast the impulse travels (conduction velocity), the delay (latency) and the strength of the response (amplitude). Slow conduction points to damage of the nerve's coating (myelin). A low amplitude points to damage of the nerve fibres themselves (axons).
The results help tell apart several problems. A trapped nerve at the wrist or elbow. A root pinched by a slipped disc. Polyneuropathy, where many nerves suffer at once. An injury after a fracture or cut. Muscle diseases (myopathies). Trouble at the nerve-muscle junction, as in myasthenia gravis. Some nerve and muscle diseases can only be confirmed this way.
Two parts: nerve conduction and needle EMG
The nerve conduction study tests the nerves. A flat sticky electrode goes on the skin over a muscle. The doctor holds a small stimulator with two metal prongs over the nerve and sends short, weak pulses. The machine measures how many milliseconds the signal took and how strong the answer was. No needles here.
Needle EMG tests the muscles. The doctor places a fine needle electrode in the muscle and records its activity at rest and as you tense it a little. A healthy muscle at rest is "silent". Spontaneous activity points to nerve or muscle damage. At Oberig Clinic we use only single-use sterile needle electrodes. A complete study combines both parts. That is what most people with disc problems or polyneuropathy need.
When you need it
Referrals come from neurologists, orthopaedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, endocrinologists and rheumatologists. Typical complaints: numbness, tingling or burning in the hands or feet, a weak hand or foot, legs that feel like cotton wool, cramps and muscle twitching, pain running down an arm or leg, wasting muscles. Another reason is checking recovery after a nerve injury or nerve surgery. After a nerve injury, wait at least 2-3 weeks. Before that, the muscle changes have not had time to appear, and the test can look falsely normal.
Numb fingertips: why check your nerves
The most common cause is carpal tunnel syndrome. The median nerve gets squeezed at the wrist. Your fingers go numb at night or when you use a mouse or phone. Numb little and ring fingers point to the ulnar nerve. Numbness in both hands, like wearing gloves, shows up in diabetes, low vitamin B12 and thyroid disease. A herniated disc in the neck is another cause. ENMG shows the level of the problem and tells one cause from another. That matters for treatment. A wrist splint will not help a pinched root in the neck, and neck exercises will not free a trapped nerve at the wrist.
Arms
The arm study tests the median, ulnar and radial nerves. If needed, the doctor also checks the neck nerve roots with needle EMG of the shoulder and forearm muscles. Before carpal tunnel surgery the test is a must. It confirms the diagnosis and shows how tight the squeeze is. That decides if a splint and an injection will do or you need a procedure.
Legs
Legs are tested for a slipped disc in the lower back with pain down the leg, numb feet, a weak foot that slaps as you walk, calf cramps. Diabetic nerve damage often starts in the feet. ENMG picks it up before the symptoms become obvious. The doctor tests the peroneal, tibial and sural nerves, and uses the needle on the calf and thigh muscles. Together with a spine MRI, it shows if a disc really presses on a nerve root or the pain has another cause. A leg study costs the same as an arm study, and both can be done in one visit.
How to prepare
There is little to do, but a few things affect accuracy:
- on the day of the test, do not put cream, oil or lotion on your arms and legs, your skin must be clean and dry,
- wear clothes you can easily take off or roll up above the elbow and knee,
- if you take blood thinners or have a pacemaker, tell the doctor before the test starts,
- in winter, come a few minutes early: cold hands and feet slow the signal, and your limbs need to warm up,
- bring your referral, MRI reports, blood sugar results and any earlier ENMG, a comparison over time tells a lot.
For a leg study, wear shorts or loose trousers. Eat as usual. Do not stop any medicines without talking to your doctor. There is no need to fast and no special diet.
What happens during the test
You sit or lie on a couch. The doctor asks about your symptoms, examines you and decides which nerves and muscles to test. No referral? The doctor will help choose the right method before starting. Then the electrodes go on, and the nerve conduction part begins. The room is warm and quiet. If your hands or feet are cold, the doctor warms them first, since temperature changes the numbers.
The doctor sends short pulses at several points along the nerve. It feels like a click or a mild electric tap. Your finger or hand twitches on its own. It is unpleasant but bearable, and each pulse lasts a fraction of a second. The needle part feels like a small injection. Then you tense the muscle a little. The whole test takes 30 to 60 minutes, depending on how many limbs are tested. You can go straight back to your day afterwards.
Results and normal values
The report describes each nerve: conduction velocity, latency, amplitude. For muscles it notes spontaneous activity and the shape of the signals. Rough normal limits for adults (they depend on age, height and limb temperature, your doctor interprets them):
| Nerve | Normal conduction velocity |
|---|---|
| Median, ulnar (arms, motor fibres) | 50 m/s and above |
| Median (sensory fibres) | 50 m/s and above |
| Peroneal, tibial (legs, motor) | 40 m/s and above |
| Sural (legs, sensory fibres) | 40 m/s and above |
Common phrases in the report have a meaning too. "Demyelinating pattern" means the nerve's coating is damaged but the nerve itself is intact. These changes recover better. "Axonal pattern" means the fibres are damaged, and recovery takes longer. "Signs of denervation" in a muscle point to fresh or active damage of the nerve that supplies it. "L5 radiculopathy" or "C6 radiculopathy" names the exact nerve root. That helps the surgeon plan.
Leg limits are lower than arm limits. Leg nerves are longer and cooler. After 60, values can sit at the edge of normal with no disease at all. One number outside the range is not a diagnosis. What counts is the full picture: the changes, your symptoms and the examination. A neurologist explains the report and plans treatment.
Common questions
Does it hurt?
The nerve part feels like a mild electric tap. Unpleasant, not painful. The needle part feels like a normal injection. No pain relief is needed.
Can children have it?
Yes. At the clinic a paediatric neurologist with a PhD runs the test for children and explains each step to the child and parents.
Can I have it with a pacemaker?
The needle part, yes. Nerve stimulation is done with care and away from the device. Always tell the doctor.
When will I get the results?
The doctor goes over the first findings with you right after the test, while the curves are on the screen. Ask about the timing of the written report when you book.
Can I drive afterwards?
Yes. There are no limits after the test. The pulses leave no weakness or numbness. The needle spot may ache a little for a few hours.
How often can it be repeated?
As often as needed. There is no radiation and no lasting effect on the nerves. Your doctor will set the timing based on how your symptoms change.
How much is a repeat test?
A repeat complete study of category 2 costs UAH 2,690, about half the first one. To check treatment, it is usually repeated after 3-6 months.
ENMG prices at Oberig Clinic
We do ENMG in two complexity categories. The category depends on the scope of the test: how many nerves, muscles and limbs. A nerve conduction study starts at UAH 2,425, a complete study at UAH 4,325. Your doctor will tell you the exact cost after the examination, once the scope is clear. Legs cost the same as arms, as the price goes by category, not by limb. Needle EMG on its own starts at UAH 2,995. Do not confuse it with bladder EMG (UAH 1,125). That is a urology test with a different purpose.
| Test | Price |
|---|---|
| Nerve conduction study, category 1 | UAH 2,425 |
| Nerve conduction study, category 2 | UAH 3,960 |
| Needle EMG, category 1 | UAH 2,995 |
| Needle EMG, category 2 | UAH 3,275 |
| Complete study (nerve conduction + needle), category 1 | UAH 4,325 |
| Complete study, category 2, first | UAH 5,276 |
| Complete study, category 2, repeat | UAH 2,690 |
Prices are taken from the clinic price list as of 01.10.2026 and may change. Please check the current cost with our call centre.
Why choose Oberig Clinic for ENMG
- An experienced neurophysiologist. Anatolii Omelianenko is a neurologist with a PhD and an associate professor. For years he headed a neurophysiology lab. He teaches at the Department of Modern Medical Diagnostics of Bogomolets National Medical University.
- Safety. Needle EMG uses only single-use sterile electrodes.
- A test planned around you. No referral? The doctor will work out which nerves and muscles to test, so you do not pay for extras.
- Treatment nearby. Neurologists, neurosurgeons, orthopaedic surgeons, endocrinologists, MRI and the lab all work in one clinic. You do not have to piece a diagnosis together from different places.
Address: 3 Zoolohichna St, buildings "G" and "V", Kyiv. Book an ENMG online at https://my.oberig.ua/ua/appointment/ or call +38 044 521 30 03.
Electroneuromyography (EMG and nerve conduction study)?
