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content="Diagnosis" class="rdf-meta element-hidden"></span><span property="sioc:num_replies" content="0" datatype="xsd:integer" class="rdf-meta element-hidden"></span> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-name-field-body field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>ALS can be very difficult to diagnose. There is no one test or procedure to confirm the diagnosis.</p> <p>To determine if you have ALS, your doctor will perform an evaluation that includes a physical exam, medical history, lab tests such as blood and urine tests, and imaging tests such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and spinal cord.</p> <p><a href="https://www.ucsfhealth.org/medical-tests/003929">Electromyography (EMG)</a>聽may be used to test the health of your muscles and the nerves controlling your muscles. This test is very sensitive in detecting lower motor neuron disease.</p> <p>There are no standard laboratory tests for upper motor neuron disease. But certain signs may be interpreted by your doctor as signs of ALS such as:</p> <ul> <li>Babinski's reflex, an unusual flexing of the toes that signals damaged nerve paths</li> <li>Diminished fine motor coordination</li> <li>Muscle cramps, which can be painful, and twitching</li> <li>Spasticity, a specific type of stiffness that causes jerky, hard to control movements</li> </ul> <p><em>UCSF Health medical specialists have reviewed this information. It is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor or other health care provider. We encourage you to discuss any questions or concerns you may have with your provider.</em></p> </div></div></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="sidebar" class="column"> <div class="sidebar_top"> <div class="region region-sidebar-top"> <div id="block-menu-block-2" class="block block-menu-block"> <h3><a href="/patients-and-families" title="" class="active-trail">Patients and Families</a></h3> <div class="content"> <div class="menu-block-wrapper menu-block-2 menu-name-main-menu parent-mlid-0 menu-level-2"> <ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf menu-mlid-6946"><a href="/what-als">What is ALS?</a></li> <li class="leaf menu-mlid-6951"><a href="/signs-and-symptoms" title="">Signs and Symptoms</a></li> <li class="leaf active-trail active menu-mlid-6956"><a href="/diagnosis" title="" class="active-trail active">Diagnosis</a></li> <li class="last leaf menu-mlid-6961"><a href="/treatments" title="">Treatments</a></li> </ul></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="sidebar"> <div class="section"> <div class="region region-sidebar"> <div id="block-block-11" class="block block-block"> <h3>Our Location</h3> <div class="content"> <p>400 Parnassus Ave, Eighth Floor<br /> San Francisco, CA 94143<br /> 聽</p> <p><a class="btn--small btn--blue" href="https://www.google.com/maps/dir/37.7506846,-122.4580463/400+Parnassus+Ave,+San+Francisco,+CA+94143/@37.7557761,-122.4699173,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m9!4m8!1m1!4e1!1m5!1m1!1s0x808587575d3e1ad1:0x9bd5c96264d55d0d!2m2!1d-122.4572508!2d37.7645542">see on map</a></p> </div> </div> <div id="block-block-6" class="block block-block"> <h3>Contact Us</h3> <div class="content"> <p><a>Phone: (415) 353-2122 </a></p> <p><a>Fax: (415) 353-2524 </a></p> </div> </div> <div id="block-block-16" class="block block-block"> <h3>Make a Gift</h3> <div class="content"> <p>Support the work of the ALS Center聽at UCSF<br /> 聽</p> <p><a class="btn--small btn--blue btn--giving" href="https://makeagift.ucsf.edu/site/SPageServer?pagename=A1_API_GeneralGivingForm&Primary=Neuroscience&AppealCode=C8DAW&Other=Rick%20Olney%20Endowed%20Professorship%20(S0406)"><strong>Give Today</strong></a></p> <p>聽</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div></div> <div id="footer"> <div class="section"> <div class="footer-bottom"> <nav aria-label="Footer Navigation" class="footer--navigation"> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/accessibility-resources">Accessibility</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/website-privacy-policy">Privacy Policy</a></li> <li><a href="https://websites.ucsf.edu/website-terms-use">Terms of Use </a></li> <li><a href="https://websites.ucsf.edu/azlist">A-Z Website List</a></li> </ul> </nav> <div class="footer--copyright"> <p>© 2024 The Regents of the University of California</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> /*<![CDATA[*/ (function() { var sz = document.createElement('script'); sz.type = 'text/javascript'; sz.async = true; sz.src = '//siteimproveanalytics.com/js/siteanalyze_8343.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(sz, s); })(); /*]]>*/ </script> </body> </html>