EMG (Electromyography) in Spanish

What it means

Electromyography (EMG) is a test that checks the health of the muscles and the nerves that control them. A health care provider inserts a very thin needle electrode through the skin into a muscle, and the electrode picks up the electrical activity given off by the muscle. An EMG test looks at the electrical signals muscles make when they are at rest and when used; a healthy muscle should not give off any electrical signals when it is not being moved. MedlinePlus says EMG tests and nerve conduction studies can be done separately but are usually done at the same time, and that an EMG test may take from 30 to 60 minutes. You may need these tests if you have symptoms of a muscle or nerve disorder.

Spanish term: Electromiografía (EMG)
Gender and article: feminine: la electromiografía
Pronunciation: eh-lehk-troh-myoh-grah-FEE-ah

Other Spanish terms	Where it is used	Note
electromiograma	General	Listed by MedlinePlus en español among the alternative names, on both its medical test page and its encyclopedia article.
prueba de EMG	General	Listed by MedlinePlus en español under "Nombres alternativos" on its medical test page.
miograma	General	Listed by MedlinePlus en español among the alternative names in its encyclopedia article.

MedlinePlus en español writes electromiografía in full and follows it with the abbreviation EMG, the same three letters the English pages use. The full word is feminine: la electromiografía. The article that goes with the abbreviation varies between its two pages: the medical test page writes la EMG and una EMG, while the encyclopedia article writes un EMG. The alternative names those pages list are electromiograma, prueba de EMG and miograma.

The test that MedlinePlus says is usually done at the same time is the estudio de conducción nerviosa (nerve conduction study); the encyclopedia article calls it examen de la velocidad de conducción nerviosa, and the test page lists the abbreviation VCN. Other words from the same pages: electrodo de aguja (needle electrode), actividad eléctrica (electrical activity), en reposo (at rest), debilidad muscular (muscle weakness), hormigueo o entumecimiento (tingling or numbness), marcapasos (pacemaker) and anticoagulantes (blood thinners).

Phrases for an appointment

What a patient or a clinician might say, in English and Spanish:

Who	English	Spanish
Clinician	I am ordering an EMG to check your muscles and the nerves that control them.	Voy a pedirle una electromiografía para revisar los músculos y los nervios que los controlan.
Patient	What is the test for? I have had numbness and tingling in my hands for weeks.	¿Para qué es la prueba? Tengo entumecimiento y hormigueo en las manos desde hace semanas.
Clinician	Do you have a pacemaker, or do you take blood thinners?	¿Tiene un marcapasos o toma anticoagulantes?
Patient	Does the needle hurt?	¿Duele la aguja?
Clinician	You may have slight pain or discomfort when the electrode is inserted.	Es posible que sienta un ligero dolor o molestia cuando se inserte el electrodo.
Clinician	Please relax your arm. Now tighten the muscle slowly.	Relaje el brazo, por favor. Ahora contraiga el músculo lentamente.
Clinician	Do not use lotions or creams on your skin for a day or two before the test.	No use lociones ni cremas en la piel durante uno o dos días antes de la prueba.
Patient	How long does the test take, and when will I get the results?	¿Cuánto dura la prueba y cuándo me darán los resultados?

In 9 languages

Language	Term
English	EMG (Electromyography)
Spanish (Español)	Electromiografía (EMG)
Chinese (中文)	肌電圖（EMG）
Korean (한국어)	근전도 검사 (EMG)
Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt)	Điện cơ đồ (EMG)
Filipino (Tagalog)	EMG
Portuguese (Português)	Eletromiografia (EMG)
Thai (ภาษาไทย)	การตรวจคลื่นไฟฟ้ากล้ามเนื้อ (EMG)
Japanese (日本語)	筋電図検査（EMG）

Where you'll see it

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Related terms

Your right to an interpreter in the United States

If English is not your primary language and you have difficulty communicating in English, you may need an interpreter or a translated document when you visit a doctor or dentist, go to the emergency room or pick up a prescription. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights states that two federal laws, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, require programs that receive its funding to provide language access services free of charge.

You can ask when you make the appointment or at the front desk: "I need an interpreter, please." «Necesito un intérprete, por favor.»

More terms: Bones, joints and muscles

All terms in this area: Bones, joints and muscles — Huesos, articulaciones y músculos

Sources

This page is a language reference. It is not medical advice.