{"id":8598,"date":"2016-11-18T12:04:35","date_gmt":"2016-11-18T17:04:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/52.229.122.34\/en\/?page_id=8598"},"modified":"2023-06-16T10:38:40","modified_gmt":"2023-06-16T14:38:40","slug":"emg-clinic","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.ottawahospital.on.ca\/en\/clinical-services\/deptpgrmcs\/clinics-and-services\/emg-clinic\/","title":{"rendered":"EMG Clinic"},"content":{"rendered":"
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General Information<\/h3>\n
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What is EMG?<\/a><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n
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EMG is the common abbreviation for electromyography. The \u201cmyo\u201d part means muscle, so EMG means \u201celectrical muscle writing\u201d – where the electrical signal recorded from a muscle is made to write patterns on a video screen. Nerve Conduction Studies (NCS) are also done where an electrical stimulus is applied to the nerve and the electrical response is recorded further on down the nerve or from a muscle the nerve communicates with.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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What is the EMG Lab?<\/a><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n
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To be referred to our service, you would typically show signs or symptoms of nerve or muscle problems consisting of numbness, tingling, pain, weakness, or some combination of these. Such symptoms can have many causes, and it is the role of EMG and NCS to find evidence of muscle or nerve damage and to provide a diagnosis to the physician who referred you here, so that appropriate treatment can be given.<\/p>\n

The most common diagnosis is a single \u201cpinched nerve\u201d, for example at the wrist (Carpal Tunnel Syndrome) or perhaps in the neck or lower back. We also often test people who have more widespread symptoms due to a problem with the nerves in general \u2013 quite common in diabetes, for example. Sometimes we are testing people for rarer conditions such as ALS or genetic disorders of the muscles and\/or nerves. The reasons to come to the EMG lab are vast and varied and by no means limited to those we have listed here. Often our EMG test results show nothing abnormal, or the test results may point to a diagnosis quite different from that suggested by the physician who sent you, so EMG might spare you unnecessary or inappropriate treatments.<\/p>\n

Aside from providing this primary service to the public, our clinic plays a key role in training Residents: These are doctors studying to become Neurologists or Physiatrists (Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation). We also introduce University of Ottawa students to EMG, we provide facilities to consult research in the field (through the Neuromuscular Centre at the Civic Campus and through the Rehabilitation Centre), and we participate in regional and national EMG teaching and review courses.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Who are the Members of the EMG Lab?<\/a><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n
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The Rehabilitation Medicine EMG lab is staffed by 10 physicians (all physiatrists), one registered EMG Technologist and is administered by the booking department at the Rehabilitation Centre.
\nThe Neurology EMG lab is staffed by 9 physicians (6 neurologists, 2 physiatrists and 1 plastic surgeon) and 5 full or part time registered EMG technologists and is administered by physician administrative assistants and reception\/booking clerks.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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How are Clients Referred to the EMG Lab?<\/a><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n
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Clients are referred from a wide area of Eastern and Northern Ontario, Western Quebec, as well as Iqaluit by family physicians or by specialists (including, but not limited to, neuro, orthopedic or plastic surgeons, rheumatologists, other neurologists, other physiatrists).<\/p>\n