Electromyography: Test Your Knowledge

• Pain is described as a dull, deep ache that can interfere with sleep and movement, sometimes indicating joint sprain, muscle strain, or compartment syndrome.
• Musculoskeletal problems can cause altered sensation, including paresthesias (sensations of burning, tingling, or numbness), which may be caused by pressure on nerves or circulatory impairment.
• Muscle strength and size are assessed through noting muscular strength and coordination, muscle size, and a patient's ability to change positions, with weakness indicating potential issues.
• The skin is inspected for edema, temperature, color, and signs of injury or cuts.
• Posture is assessed for normal curvature and common deformities,eg Kyphosis (increased thoracic spine curvature), lordosis (exaggerated lumbar spine curvature), and scoliosis (lateral spinal deviation).
• Gait is assessed by having the patient walk away from the examiner for a short distance.
• Bone integrity is assessed for deformities, alignment, symmetry, and abnormal growth or fracture findings.

Musculoskeletal system diagnostic evaluations include:

• X-rays, which determine bone density, texture, erosion, and changes in bone relationships, requiring multiple views and potentially serial imaging for full assessment.
• Computed tomography (CT) scans, which provide more detailed cross-sectional imaging and can assess soft tissue, ligaments, tendons, and severe trauma to various body areas.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a noninvasive technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create high-resolution images of bones and soft tissues, used to diagnose torn muscles, ligaments, cartilages, herniated discs, and various hip or pelvic conditions.
• Bone scans, which detect bone disease before it can be seen on x-rays and can diagnose stress fractures.
• Arthrography, which injects a contrast agent into the joint cavity to visualize joint structures, including ligaments, cartilage, tendons, and joint capsule, and assess joint pain and progression of joint disease.
• Bone densitometry, which evaluates bone metabolic diseases through accurate monitoring of bone density changes in patients with osteoporosis.

Nursing interventions during imaging techniques include:

• Instructing the patient to lie still during the procedure.
• Preparing the patient for conditions that may require special consideration during the study, such as pregnancy, claustrophobia, disabilities, or metal implants.
• Assessing the patient for possible allergies before using contrast agents for CT scans, MRIs, or arthrography.
• Providing comfort measures such as mild analgesics and ice bags.
• Removing metal pins or magnetic cards before MRI and CT scans.
• Prohibiting patients with cardiac pacemakers from undergoing MRI and CT scans.
• Performing arthrocentesis (joint aspiration) to obtain synovial fluid for examination or to relieve pain due to joint effusion.

Test your knowledge about electromyography (EMG), a diagnostic procedure that provides information about the electrical potential of muscles and nerves. Learn about the insertion of needle electrodes, reading responses on an oscilloscope, and post-study care.