What is a common goal of NMES when used for strengthening programs?

• A. To cause comfortable, short, non-functional twitches
• B. To elicit purposeful muscle contractions to improve strength and function
• C. To deliver continuous low-intensity stimulation for pain relief
• D. To permanently fatigue the muscle

Answer: (B)

When NMES is used for strengthening, the goal is to elicit purposeful muscle contractions that improve strength and function. The electrical stimulus is applied to recruit motor units so the muscle contracts in a way that supports real tasks and activities, helping to build force, power, and functional capability over time. This approach emphasizes achieving a strong, functional contraction while managing fatigue with appropriate timing and dosing, rather than just producing sensations or non-functional twitches.

As for the other ideas: comfortable, short, non-functional twitches don’t drive meaningful strength gains; continuous low-intensity stimulation is typically used for pain relief rather than strength development; and deliberately fatiguing a muscle permanently is not a goal of strengthening programs.