Nerve Conduction Velocity examines nerve injury and dysfunction. One of the most common types of tests that calculate the speed of electrical impulses travel through the peripheral nerves. A neurologist may recommend an NCV test in addition to an electromyogram or EMG to detect the presence, location, and extent of damage to a nerve or muscle.
Our peripheral nervous system is a network of motor and sensory nerves connecting the brain and spinal cord to the entire body. Peripheral nerves run along the spinal cord, helping experience the senses and build control over muscles. While healthy nerves relay electrical signals quicker and move with velocity, impaired nerves can’t perform to their optimum best.
NCV test helps detect the following conditions or diseases:
While performing an NCV test, the nerve would be stimulated through electrodes attached to the skin. Two electrodes will be placed on the skin over the nerve, one will stimulate the nerve with a gentle electrical impulse, and the other record the signals. This process is repeated for one nerve at a time (requiring testing).
Speed would be calculated by measuring the distance between the electrodes and the time the electrical signal traveled between electrodes.
An NCV test is performed on individuals experiencing symptoms of tingling sensation, numbness, sudden or sharp pain in the feet or back, buzzing sensation, or low grip. This test can diagnose any condition related to the nervous system ranging from nerve damage, sciatic nerve, inherited neurological condition, carpel tunnel syndrome, and others.
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