Glossary

Short explanations of common terms.

EMG

Electromyography — a test that evaluates electrical activity in muscles.

Fasciculations

Small involuntary muscle twitches.

Spasticity

Increased muscle tone and stiffness.

Atrophy

Loss of muscle bulk.

NIV

Non-invasive ventilation — breathing support delivered by mask.

PEG

A feeding tube placed through the abdominal wall into the stomach when needed.

ALSFRS-R

A scale used to assess function in ALS.

SOD1

A gene associated with a small subset of ALS cases.