Quick Answer
Electromyography samples electrical activity in a muscle with a fine needle electrode, distinguishing weakness from interrupted nerve supply from weakness caused by muscle disease. Performed and interpreted at 1691 W. Horizon Ridge Parkway, Suite 100, Henderson NV 89012 alongside nerve conduction studies.
Part ofThis guide sits beneath emg and nerve conduction studies, which covers the study itself, how it is performed and what the report should contain.
our EMG and Nerve Conduction Studies page →Key Takeaways
- Electromyography samples muscle electrical activity at rest and during light contraction with a fine needle electrode.
- It distinguishes weakness from interrupted nerve supply from weakness caused by muscle disease.
- It also shows whether a change is recent or long-standing, which affects how urgently to act.
- It is performed alongside nerve conduction studies because the two answer different halves of the question.
- Performed and interpreted at 1691 W. Horizon Ridge Parkway, Suite 100, Henderson NV 89012 in an independently accredited laboratory.
Electromyography
Electromyography and nerve conduction studies are electrodiagnostic tests that measure how well nerves conduct signals and how muscles respond. Together they show whether nerve or muscle damage is present, where it is, and how severe.
What the two halves of the study measure
Electromyography and nerve conduction studies are usually performed together and measure different things, which is why the combined study answers questions neither half could alone.
Nerve conduction: speed and amplitude
Brief electrical pulses are applied to the skin over a nerve and the response recorded further along it. Two numbers come out. Speed, which reflects the insulating myelin sheath, so slowing points to a demyelinating process or to compression at a specific site. And amplitude, which reflects how many nerve fibres are still conducting, so a reduced amplitude points to fibre loss. Those two patterns carry different implications and separating them is much of the diagnostic value.
Needle electromyography: what the muscle is doing
A fine needle electrode samples electrical activity in a muscle at rest and during light contraction. It distinguishes a muscle that is weak because its nerve supply has been interrupted from one that is weak because the muscle itself is diseased, which is a distinction examination alone cannot reliably make. It also shows whether a change is recent or long-standing, which matters for deciding how urgently to act.
Why they are done together
Nerve conduction localises along the length of a nerve; electromyography establishes which muscles are affected and therefore which root or nerve supplies them. Together they separate a nerve root problem from a peripheral nerve entrapment from a muscle disease, and grade how severe the finding is. The combined study is described in full on the EMG and nerve conduction page.
| Also considered | How it is distinguished |
|---|---|
| MRI | Imaging shows structure; electrodiagnostic testing shows function, which is why a normal MRI can accompany an abnormal study. |
| Nerve ultrasound | Adds anatomical detail at a suspected entrapment site; it complements rather than replaces conduction testing. |
| Blood testing | Identifies causes such as diabetes or B12 deficiency once nerve damage is confirmed. |
| Autonomic and small-fibre testing | Used where burning and temperature symptoms dominate and standard conduction studies are normal. |
What the appointment involves
01
What brings people in
A referral to find out whether nerve or muscle damage is present, or to confirm a suspected entrapment before surgery.
02
What the evaluation settles
Whether conduction is measurably abnormal, which nerves and roots are involved, the severity, and whether the process is focal or generalised.
03
What you leave with
A graded, quantified report interpreted by the neurologist who performed the study, in an AANEM-accredited laboratory.
No sedation, no fasting, no driver
Eat normally and take your usual medications. Avoid lotions and oils on the skin, since they interfere with electrode contact. Disclose blood thinners, a bleeding disorder, or any implanted cardiac or neurostimulation device, because each changes how the study is set up. Wear or bring clothing that allows access to the limb being studied.
What it feels like, described honestly
The nerve conduction pulses feel like a brief electrical tap or a snap, strong enough to make the muscle twitch and over in an instant. The needle examination is a fine electrode rather than an injection and involves no fluid; most patients describe pressure and a brief ache rather than sharp pain. Neither is comfortable and both are brief, and being told that in advance is more useful than reassurance.
Duration and afterwards
Twenty minutes to around ninety, depending on how many nerves and muscles the question requires. Ordinary activity resumes immediately and no driver is needed. Occasional brief muscle soreness at needle sites, which settles within a day.
Performed and interpreted here
At both offices, in laboratories holding AANEM accreditation independently, and by the physician performing the study rather than read later from a technician’s output. That matters because an early finding frequently indicates which additional nerve or muscle to examine, and that adaptive step is what turns an ambiguous result into an answer obtained the same day. Detail is on the accreditation page.
The first 30, 60 and 90 days
Step 1
First visit
History and neurological examination, a review of records and prior imaging, and a decision on which studies are actually indicated. You leave with the plan, not just a referral.
Step 2
Within 30 days
Indicated in-office studies are performed and interpreted by the neurologist who ordered them, in our AANEM-accredited laboratories. Results are explained in plain language.
Step 3
60 to 90 days
Follow-up to judge whether the plan is working, adjust it, and coordinate with your referring clinician. Where a diagnosis needs time to confirm, this is where it is revisited.
Attending from Henderson
The Henderson office is at 1691 W. Horizon Ridge Parkway, Suite 100, just off the 215 Beltway, with parking on site. All six in-office studies are performed and interpreted there, so nothing is sent across to Las Vegas. Green Valley, Anthem, Whitney and Boulder City are generally closer to it than to Flamingo Road. Adults 18 and older.
Referred for nerve or muscle testing?
No sedation, no fasting, no driver. Ask for the study to be graded rather than only named.
The Bottom Line
The needle examination is what separates a nerve problem from a muscle problem. It is brief and uncomfortable rather than painful, and no driver is needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an EMG hurt?
The nerve conduction pulses feel like a brief electrical tap strong enough to make the muscle twitch, over in an instant. The needle examination uses a fine electrode rather than an injection and involves no fluid; most patients describe pressure and a brief ache rather than sharp pain. Neither is comfortable and both are brief.
Do I need to prepare or bring a driver?
No sedation and no fasting, so no driver is needed and you can drive yourself home. Eat normally and take usual medications. Avoid lotions and oils on the skin, and disclose blood thinners, a bleeding disorder or any implanted cardiac or neurostimulation device. Wear or bring clothing that allows easy access to the arms and legs.
How long does it take?
Twenty minutes to around ninety, depending on how many nerves and muscles the clinical question requires. The study is planned as it proceeds rather than following a fixed protocol, so the duration reflects what the findings call for. Allowing a little more time in your day than the estimate avoids feeling rushed at the end.
What is the difference between the two halves?
Nerve conduction measures speed and amplitude along a nerve, separating a demyelinating or compressive process from fibre loss. Needle electromyography samples muscle activity and distinguishes weakness from interrupted nerve supply from weakness caused by muscle disease. Most clinical questions need both halves, which is why they are performed at the same visit.
What should the report contain?
Which nerves and muscles were examined, the actual measurements, the comparison against reference values appropriate to your age and height, the pattern, a localisation, and an interpretation against the clinical question. A conclusion without measurements cannot be compared against a later study. Ask for a copy for your own records.
Who performs and reads it?
The physician performing the study also interprets it, at both offices, in laboratories holding AANEM accreditation independently. That matters because an early finding often indicates which additional nerve or muscle to examine, and a fixed technician protocol loses that step. It is also why the study can be extended on the day rather than rebooked.
Is the needle an injection?
No. It is a fine recording electrode and no fluid is injected. Most patients describe pressure and a brief ache rather than sharp pain, and it is over quickly. It records rather than delivers anything, and the electrode is considerably finer than the needle used for an ordinary blood draw or injection.
Where exactly is the Henderson office?
1691 W. Horizon Ridge Parkway, Suite 100, Henderson NV 89012, just off the 215 Beltway, with parking on site. All six in-office studies are performed and interpreted there, so nothing is referred across to the Las Vegas office. Green Valley, Anthem, Whitney and Boulder City are generally closer to it than to West Flamingo Road.
Should I use the Henderson or the Las Vegas office?
Whichever is the shorter drive, since both are fully equipped and hold the same records. West Horizon Ridge Parkway generally suits Green Valley, Anthem and Boulder City; West Flamingo Road suits the west and southwest of the valley. If you can attend either, say so when booking, because availability differs between the two week to week.
Can I have the study without a consultation first?
It is generally better after one, because the examination determines which nerves and muscles the question actually requires. A study planned from a referral line alone risks measuring the wrong thing well. Where a referring clinician has already localised the problem, the two can sometimes be combined into one visit.
How this page was sourced
Practice facts come from Clinical Neurology Specialists directly: that the study is performed and interpreted within the practice at both offices, that both electrodiagnostic laboratories hold AANEM accreditation independently, and that the practice was the first physician-owned outpatient EDX laboratory in Nevada to reach exemplary status. Clinical context is sourced to the organisations listed below.
No reference values, latency thresholds or severity cut-offs are published, because they vary by nerve, age, height and limb temperature and a reader comparing their own report against an inapplicable figure would be misled. Sensations are described as typical and vary between individuals. No outcome is promised. Scope is adults 18 and older.
Change log
- 2026-07-28 — page published; clinical content reviewed.
- 2026-07-28 — last reviewed against AAN, AANEM and NINDS guidance; internal links and schema verified.
- Review cadence: quarterly, or sooner if guidance changes.
How to cite this page
Clinical Neurology Specialists. “Electromyography Henderson.” Reviewed 2026-07-28. https://www.cnsnevada.com/diagnostic-testing/emg-nerve-conduction-study/electromyography-henderson/
References
- American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine — laboratory accreditation and electrodiagnostic study standards.
- Muscular Dystrophy Association — patient information across neuromuscular disorders.
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke — the reference catalogue of nervous-system disorders.
This page is for general information about a Clinical Neurology Specialists office and is not medical advice, a diagnosis, or a treatment recommendation. It does not create a physician-patient relationship. Adults 18 and older. For an active stroke, a first-time or prolonged seizure, sudden severe headache, sudden weakness, sudden vision loss, or a head injury with loss of consciousness, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.