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ENG / EMG Testing

Advanced electrophysiological testing of peripheral nerves and muscles – fast, accurate, and minimally invasive diagnostics for nerve entrapment syndromes and neuropathies.

ENG / EMG diagnostics

Objective assessment of peripheral nerve and muscle function

Numbness in the arms or legs, gradually weakening grip strength, nighttime hand pain, or burning sensations and altered sensation in the lower limbs may indicate compression of peripheral nerves (nerve entrapment syndromes) or widespread damage to nerve fibers. Electrophysiological testing—including electroneurography (ENG) and electromyography (EMG)—measures nerve conduction velocity and the electrical activity of muscle fibers, providing objective diagnostic findings to guide treatment.

At Swiss Clinic, our experienced neurology and clinical neurophysiology specialists perform these examinations using advanced diagnostic equipment. The results help identify the location and severity of nerve damage and determine whether conservative treatment, such as medication and physical therapy, is sufficient or surgical nerve decompression may be necessary.

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ENG és EMG vizsgálat, elektrofiziológiai diagnosztika

What to know before your examination

ENG and EMG testing are minimally invasive, generally well-tolerated procedures that do not require extensive preparation. To ensure accurate and efficient measurements, please follow these practical guidelines before your appointment:

What should you know before your appointment?

  • Avoid lotions and creams: On the day of your examination, do not apply body lotion, hand cream, or oil-based cosmetics to the limbs being tested. Oily skin can interfere with electrode adhesion and affect nerve conduction measurements.
  • Keep your hands and feet warm: Cold extremities naturally slow nerve conduction velocity and may affect test results. In cooler weather, please wear gloves and warm socks to ensure your hands and feet are comfortably warm when you arrive.
  • Pacemakers and medications: Please inform our team in advance if you have a cardiac pacemaker or take anticoagulant (blood-thinning) medication. This information is particularly important when planning needle EMG testing.

When is ENG / EMG testing recommended?

ENG and EMG testing play an essential role in evaluating suspected disorders of peripheral nerve or muscle function. These examinations are particularly recommended for the following symptoms and conditions:

  • Symptoms of nerve entrapment syndromes: Hand numbness that worsens at night, tingling in the thumb, index, and middle fingers (carpal tunnel syndrome), or numbness in the little finger accompanied by a dull ache around the elbow (ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow).
  • Nerve root disorders (radiculopathy): Pain radiating into the arm or leg, accompanied by numbness and muscle weakness, potentially caused by a herniated disc or degenerative changes in the cervical or lumbar spine.
  • Diabetes-related polyneuropathy: Burning, tingling, or numbness in the feet, often following a stocking-like distribution, or reduced sensitivity to light touch in patients with diabetes.
  • Muscle weakness and muscle wasting: Frequently dropping objects, declining fine motor coordination, unsteady walking, foot drop (peroneal nerve palsy), or unexplained muscle twitching (fasciculations).
  • Monitoring traumatic nerve injuries: Objective assessment of nerve recovery following limb fractures, deep cuts, or surgical procedures.

Available examinations

Our clinics offer diagnostic examinations tailored to the location of your symptoms and the specific anatomical regions affected:

ENG/EMG examination (one upper or lower limb)

Comprehensive neurophysiological assessment of the nerve pathways in an entire upper or lower limb when nerve root disorders, widespread neuropathies, or a herniated spinal disc are suspected.

Why choose Swiss Clinic?

Advanced diagnostic equipment, experienced clinical neurophysiology specialists, and immediate, objective test results to support accurate treatment decisions.

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Objective nerve conduction testing

We use quantitative measurements to assess nerve function and identify the precise location of slowed nerve conduction.

Targeted nerve conduction assessments

We tailor examinations of the wrist, elbow, or entire limb to your individual symptoms and diagnostic needs.

Immediate interpretation of results

Your specialist evaluates the diagnostic recordings on-site, allowing you to receive your findings and diagnostic assessment immediately.

Coordinated specialist care

We support your treatment through coordinated consultations with neurology, orthopedics, and neurosurgery specialists.

Which clinics offer this medical specialty?

Functional testing and protecting your peripheral nerves

When a peripheral nerve gets pinched in a narrow anatomical tunnel or damaged by diabetes, nerve signals slow down and the muscles they control can start to weaken. While physical exams and imaging (like X-rays, ultrasound, or MRI) show physical structures, only NCS/EMG testing reveals true nerve function: whether your nerves are firing properly and if your muscle fibers are getting the right signals.

During the test, we gently stimulate the nerve with mild electrical impulses while surface sensors record signal speed and strength with millisecond precision. These readings clearly pinpoint the severity of the issue, helping your doctor choose the right medication or decide if and when surgery is needed.

Don't wait for your grip strength to fade or muscle weakness to set in. Caught early, nerve fibers can often recover completely. Book an EMG/NCS test today for an accurate diagnosis.

Key specialties and diagnostic areas:

Nerve conduction studies (NCS / ENG)

  • Measuring conduction velocity in motor and sensory nerve fibers
  • Pinpointing pinched nerves at the wrist (carpal tunnel) and elbow (cubital tunnel)
  • Assessing the extent of diabetic neuropathy
  • Safe, non-invasive stimulation testing using skin-surface electrodes

Electromyography (EMG) – Muscle testing

  • Recording electrical activity in skeletal muscles at rest and during contraction
  • Checking muscle impact from pinched nerve roots (radiculopathy from herniated discs)
  • Distinguishing primary muscle disorders (myopathies) from motor nerve damage
  • Targeted muscle activity analysis using a fine, sterile needle electrode

Comprehensive results and care recommendations

  • Immediate on-site evaluation of test curves and conduction speeds
  • Non-surgical treatment guidance (wrist splinting, B-vitamin therapy, physical therapy)
  • Timely surgical guidance when needed to prevent permanent nerve damage
  • Close collaboration with our neurology and orthopedic departments

Don't let your symptoms leave you with unanswered questions

Our experienced medical specialists and advanced diagnostic technology can help identify the underlying causes of your symptoms. Choose an appointment time that works best for you.

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about EMG and NCS electrodiagnostic testing.

An NCS (nerve conduction study / ENG) uses mild, quick electrical pulses. You may feel a brief tingling sensation or a quick muscle twitch, but it is not truly painful. The needle EMG uses a hair-thin needle electrode placed gently into the muscle. While you might feel a small pinch or mild ache, the vast majority of patients tolerate the exam easily.

An NCS (electroneurography) checks the nerves themselves, measuring how fast and strong electrical signals travel along your peripheral nerve fibers. An EMG (electromyography) checks how your muscles respond, recording their electrical activity at rest and when flexed. Together, they show whether weakness, numbness, or pain stems from a pinched nerve or a muscle issue.

It depends on which area is being tested. A focused check on a single wrist or elbow usually takes 20 to 30 minutes. A more comprehensive test covering an entire arm or leg typically takes between 30 and 45 minutes.

Right away. Your specialist reviews the readings and waveforms as soon as the test finishes. You will receive a printed report with your doctor's findings and treatment recommendations before you leave your appointment.

No referral is required—you can book directly with us. However, if you already have notes or recommendations from a neurologist, rheumatologist, or orthopedic specialist pointing to a specific nerve issue, bringing them along helps us target the exact area right away.