Nerve conduction studies (NCS) are used to assess the health, damage to or other dysfunction of peripheral nerves. NCS is commonly used in diagnosing conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome and other compressive neuropathies and in generalized conditions such as diabetic or other forms of polyneuropathy.
NCS assesses how quickly and effectively bioelectric signals travel through the peripheral nerves. A mild electrical impulse is administered to the skin to the peripheral nerve and is recorded by surface electrodes. Both the intensity and speed of the bioelectric signal is then assessed. When nerves are healthy and undamaged, the bioelectrical signals are both strong and fast. When nerves are unhealthy such as in diabetes or damaged such as in carpal tunnel syndrome, the intensity is weaker and the speed is slower. In severe damage, the nerve may not be able to generate a signal.
Common findings in NCS include a slowed nerve conduction velocity and/or a decreased amplitude of the response. NCS is an accurate, safe and noninvasive method to determine the condition of a nerve or nerves.
