OGDENSBURG -- Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center’s rehabilitation services department provides nerve conduction studies, to assist with the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome, tarsal tunnel syndrome, peripheral neuropathy, nerve impingement, nerve damage and other nerve disorders.

The center has three trained nerve conduction therapists and two state-of-the-art nerve conduction machines. Generally, there is no waiting list or delay in getting an appointment, although a physician referral is required.

Electrodes on the skin which conduct a brief electrical pulse to a nerve in the arm or leg. A hand-held stimulating probe will be applied in various places. Several brief pulses of varying intensity are given. A patient might experience tolerable discomfort for a few seconds. Measurements are made of how fast and how well a nerve carries the messages. Nerves in the arms or legs may be tested in this way. The test can take two to three hours. The test is completely safe, the hospital says.

For more information about nerve conduction tests at Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center, visit www.claxtonhepburn.org or contact rehab services at 713-5660.