Electrodiagnosis of neck pain.

The past 3 decades have witnessed tremendous advances in the field of electrodiagnostic medicine. The high-performance electronics and microprocessors available in contemporary electrodiagnostic instruments have improved the ability to detect, record, measure, and interpret the action potentials arising from the nerves and muscle fibers. With their increased ease of use and effectiveness in both diagnosis and prognosis, electrodiagnostic tests have become valuable tools in evaluation of patients with neck pain. As with any laboratory measure, the utility of electrodiagnostic testing can be increased when it is used in appropriate clinical contexts and when its limitations are understood.