Can EMG and nerve conduction studies be done on children?
These investigations can all be carried out on babies and children if a calm and gentle approach is adopted. Children often don’t mind nerve conduction testing, but they usually dislike needles, so this part of the test is usually shorter and better carried out at the end of the session. Although they may be a bit tearful at first, children are often fascinated by the fact that when they move a muscle there is a roar of sound from the loudspeaker and a flurry of signals on the screen. Babies who are felt to be unusually ‘floppy’ may be referred for EMG testing to see if there is any sign of one of the rare neuromuscular disorders that can affect young children. They are often surprisingly unperturbed by the procedure. Although they cannot move their muscles to order they can usually be induced to do so. A gentle tickle on the sole of the foot, for example, may provoke movement of the leg muscles and give a very good quality EMG recording. How long does it take to do EMG and nerve condu
