SEMG & Chiropractic Care: The Benefits of Surface Electromyography
Medical care continues to develop over time, providing doctors with newer and more precise ways to care for their patients. This is true in the chiropractic world as well.
At Credence Chiropractic, we use a procedure called an SEMG to help us diagnose and care for muscular pain. While EMG has been around since the 1960s, the development of surface EMGs took place in the mid-20th century.
How can SEMGs help chiropractors improve their treatment plans? Let’s take a look at SEMGs, their benefits, and how they help patients.
What Is Surface Electromyography?
Surface Electromyography (SEMG) is a non-invasive, Space Foundation-certified technology that measures muscle differentials around the spine.
Many health concerns and pain that chiropractors assess are due to neurological stress in patients’ spines, called subluxations. These subluxations cause dysfunction in the spinal nerve, which increases electrical activity in the muscle, causing abnormal muscle firing.
These spasms are caused by tight or contracted muscles caused by neurological stress patterns caused by vertebral subluxation. SEMG technology measures the nerve signaling and nerve firing in the muscles around your spine, which tells us where the muscles are firing abnormally and whether they are firing too much or too little.
How Is SEMG Administered?
During a regular EMG, a small needle electrode is inserted through the skin and into the muscle. The needle stays there for one to two minutes during the test. These tests can be mildly uncomfortable.
With a surface EMG (SEMG), the technology is placed on the skin above the muscle being tested. The sensors then begin reading motor tone and measure if it is within normal range or if it is hypertonic or hypotonic.
Patients may feel a twinge or spasm, causing minor discomfort for a few seconds. The technician reads the resulting response which is displayed on an oscilloscope.
From there, your chiropractor can determine where the problem areas are and how severe they are. We can narrow down the root cause of your pain problems and correct them at the source, which helps provide quicker and longer-lasting results.
How Can SEMG Enhance Chiropractic Care?
SEMG can provide valuable information to your chiropractor, which helps us develop effective care plans.
Let’s examine some of SEMG's benefits in chiropractic care.
Detailed Diagnostic & Care Plans
By performing an SEMG, a chiropractor has detailed information about muscle activity, which can aid in a comprehensive diagnosis of neuromuscular conditions. This test can detect issues that may not be visible through a physical examination.
Your chiropractor can develop a personalized care plan for your specific needs based on this information. This targeted approach improves the effectiveness of your care and can deliver longer-lasting results.
Ability to Monitor Progress
An SEMG can help your care providers monitor progress through repeated tests. It can also monitor your muscle activity over time to determine whether the care plan is on track or if adjustments need to be made to the schedule.
This test provides quantifiable results which demonstrate the effectiveness of your chiropractic care.
Identify Underlying Pain Causes
SEMG helps identify underlying causes of pain, dysfunction, and dysautonomia by pinpointing areas of abnormal muscle activity. When your chiropractor understands the root cause of the source of the health concern, they can create a better plan to manage and reverse the problems.
For patients with chronic pain or dysfunction, this can reveal the root cause and provide valuable insight for developing long-term health restoration strategies.
Enhance Patient Education
When patients fully understand their problems, they’re more likely to stick to a regimen or plan. The SEMG provides data that patients can use to educate themselves and grasp the importance of their health and well-being.
Support Preventative Care
SEMG can detect early signs of neuro-muscular dysfunction before they become serious issues. Early intervention can help prevent the progression of musculoskeletal problems and reduce the risks of injury.
Plus, SEMG can be used to maintain optimal muscle health.
Schedule a Family Assessment at Credence Chiropractic
Scheduling your family’s neurological assessment, which includes the SEMG, can help Credence Chiropractic monitor and adjust care plans for everyone. Our experts focus on identifying neurological dysfunctions to locate the source of your pain or health concerns and address problems head-on.
Our team is experienced in caring for the whole family, including infants, children, teenagers, and adults. If you are located in the Georgetown, Texas, area, come pay us a visit!
Schedule an assessment today or call us at 512-887-1477 for more information.