The NCV testing is the nerve conduction velocity test. It is used to find abnormalities in the peripheral nerves, their conductivity and help diagnose neurological conditions like neuromuscular disease, neuropathy of unknown cause (NUOC), carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and more.

This includes diseases that damage muscle tissue or cause nerve disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), peripheral neuropathy etc., for which patients require combined EMG/nerve conduction study to provide accurate diagnosis. Measurements are important because they help identify problems in our bodies’ systems at an early stage when medicine has still have time left.

NCV tests evaluates the function of motor neurons; sensory neurons; or both simultaneously. The NCV study diagnoses different types of muscle diseases along with nerve root injury/ impingement, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), myasthenia gravis (MG), tumors, syringomyelia, polyneuropathies or any other conditions affecting the central or peripheral nervous systems.

This test can be done on healthy people too to compare NCVs of different limbs for assessment of neuropathy leading to early diagnosis, preventing further damage and complications. NCV results help rule out CTS (nerve conduction more than 2 standard deviations below normal limits) or ALS (decreased values)

NCV can also be used to monitor the recovery after exercise, treating injuries like whiplash, strains and sprains. NCV can be used to measure postural control during stance on hard surfaces in multiple sclerosis patients along with EMG testing which assesses neuromuscular function.

NCVs are usually done together with needle electromyography (EMG) test which helps diagnose muscle disease more accurately.