Outpatient Physical Therapy
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    • OPT Home
    • Patient Resources
      • Bill Pay
      • Job Openings
      • Leave us a Review
      • Patient Portal
      • Refer a Friend
      • OPT in the Community
      • OPT Swag
      • Wellness Blog
    • Services
      • Ergonomic Assessment
      • HydroWorx
      • Kinotek
      • Massage Therapy
      • Occupational Therapy
      • Pelvic Health
      • Performing Arts Therapy
      • Physical Therapy
      • Post Covid Treatment
      • Sports Performance
      • Sports Rehabilitation
      • Vestibular Therapy
      • Diagnostics
    • Locations
      • Auburn
      • Covington Satellite
      • Kent Easthill
      • Kent Valley
      • Lakeland Hills: PNWSI
      • Maple Valley
      • PNW Sports Institute
      • Puyallup
      • Renton
  • OPT Home
  • Patient Resources
    • Bill Pay
    • Job Openings
    • Leave us a Review
    • Patient Portal
    • Refer a Friend
    • OPT in the Community
    • OPT Swag
    • Wellness Blog
  • Services
    • Ergonomic Assessment
    • HydroWorx
    • Kinotek
    • Massage Therapy
    • Occupational Therapy
    • Pelvic Health
    • Performing Arts Therapy
    • Physical Therapy
    • Post Covid Treatment
    • Sports Performance
    • Sports Rehabilitation
    • Vestibular Therapy
    • Diagnostics
  • Locations
    • Auburn
    • Covington Satellite
    • Kent Easthill
    • Kent Valley
    • Lakeland Hills: PNWSI
    • Maple Valley
    • PNW Sports Institute
    • Puyallup
    • Renton
Now Offering:

Diagnostic Testing

If you’re struggling with persistent  pain or muscle issues, our specialists are here to help. Using electromyography testing (EMG) and ultrasound imaging we can pinpoint the root of your discomfort, allowing us to tailor treatments specifically for you- ensuring quicker recovery time. 

Diagnostic testing and what to expect

What is an EMG test?

How Does EMG testing Work?

How Does EMG testing Work?

Electromyography, or EMG, is a powerful diagnostic tool that evaluates the health of muscles and the nerves that control them. By measuring electrical activity, EMG helps pinpoint the cause of muscle weakness, numbness, tingling, or pain—whether it’s a nerve compression, neuropathy, or a neuromuscular disorder. It’s minimally invasive, highly informative, and essential for guiding accurate diagnoses and treatment plans in neurology, orthopedics, and rehabilitation medicine. 

How Does EMG testing Work?

How Does EMG testing Work?

How Does EMG testing Work?

 An EMG works by inserting a thin, needle-shaped electrode into a muscle. The electrode records the electrical signals that your muscle produces when it contracts and when it rests. 

During the test, the electrical signals are displayed on a screen and heard through a speaker as waves and sounds. The EMG test measures the size, shape and pattern of the waves and sounds, which reflect the muscle’s ability to respond to nerve stimulation.
EMG evaluates the function and health of your muscles and motor neurons. Your electromyography test results help your care team determine the cause and severity of your symptoms, such as muscle weakness, pain or spasms.  

What is ultrasound imaging?

How to prepare for diagnostic testing

How to prepare for diagnostic testing

Ultrasound Imaging is a fast, non-invasive, and cost-effective imaging tool that provides real-time, high-resolution visualization of muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, and nerves. 

Unlike MRI or CT, it allows dynamic assessment during movement, guiding accurate diagnoses and targeted interventions—right at the point of care. It enhances clinical decision-making, reduces diagnostic delays, and improves patient outcomes, all while being safer and more accessible. 

Whether you're treating sports injuries, arthritis, or nerve entrapments, MSK ultrasound brings precision and efficiency to musculoskeletal care.
 

How to prepare for diagnostic testing

How to prepare for diagnostic testing

How to prepare for diagnostic testing

No special preparation is usually necessary. Avoid using any creams or lotions on the day of the test. 

Body temperature can affect the results of this test. If it is extremely cold outside, you may be told to wait in a warm room for a while before the test is performed. 

If you are taking blood thinners or anticoagulants, inform the provider performing the test before it is done. 

Meet The Diagnostics Specialists

Scott Akers, PT, DPT, OCS, ATC

As a Physical Therapist with over 10 years of experience, I’m always striving to provide the highest level of care and help my patients recover as quickly and safely as possible. One of the most exciting advancements we now offer is access to diagnostic services, which allow us to deliver even more precise and effective treatment.

Diagnostic Ultrasound and EMG testing give us real-time insights into our patients’ injuries, enabling us to tailor care plans more accurately and efficiently. This means faster recovery and a quicker return to the activities you love.

I’m thrilled to be able to offer this next level of care—and I can’t wait to help you get back in action with diagnostics!

Michael Huffington, PT, DPT, OCS, SCS

 I have been a physical therapist and treating patients since 2012 and have always wanted to be able to more targeted and more precise with understanding a patient's condition and how to help them regain their function as efficiently as possible. The times when later I've said "well, if we had known THAT going into this,  we would have done it differently from the outset".   Well, we have arrived!  

Diagnostic testing, whether MSK ultrasound imaging or EMG studies, has been a major clinical game changer for our patients in getting to the actual bottom of their issues and knowing exactly what they need to get better. 

Call now for more information or to schedule!

16720 SE 271st St ste 200, Covington, WA 98042, USA

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