What does myalgia mean?
Myalgia is a medical term for pain in the muscles. It can describe a particular symptom, such as the muscle aches that often accompany influenza, or a broader condition involving widespread muscular aching, tenderness, or soreness. The word is especially common in medical discussions of diseases, injuries, medication effects, and exercise recovery. Unlike a diagnosis of a specific muscle injury, myalgia primarily names the sensation of muscular pain rather than its underlying cause. It is also used figuratively in phrases such as “post-exercise myalgia,” where it describes expected or temporary soreness after physical exertion. Because the term is more precise than the everyday phrase “muscle pain,” it suits clinical explanations and formal health reporting, while remaining understandable in general contexts.
nounPain in the muscles, often described as aching, soreness, or tenderness. The term may refer to a specific muscular condition or to general muscle pain.
- Pain or aching in the muscles.
"Her myalgia worsened after the long flight."
"The medication brought relief from the myalgia caused by influenza."
"Athletes often experience temporary myalgia after strenuous training."
The plural is used when referring to multiple cases or instances of muscular pain.
"The report documented myalgias in several patients."
Myalgia comes from Greek roots for “muscle” and “pain,” making its meaning a compact lesson in how medical vocabulary is built.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does myalgia come from?
Myalgia comes from Ancient Greek roots: mys, meaning “muscle,” and algos, meaning “pain.” The formation follows the common Greek and medical pattern in which the combining form myo- is joined with -algia, a term associated with pain. Related English words such as myopathy and myocyte share the muscular root, while neuralgia uses the same pain-related element with a different anatomical reference.
How myalgia is actually used
Usually used in medical and clinical contexts, though it is also common in general descriptions of influenza-related aches and exercise-related soreness.
Easily confused with myalgia
Myalgia is pain in muscle tissue, whereas neuralgia is pain arising from or affecting a nerve.