What is the burst rate (frequency) for Russian stimulation?

• A. 5-10 bps
• B. 100-150 bps
• C. 50-75 bps
• D. 1000 bps

Answer: (C)

Burst rate is how many bursts of the high-frequency current are delivered each second. In Russian stimulation, a high-frequency carrier (about 2,500 Hz) is sent in short bursts, and these bursts repeat at roughly 50 times per second. That translates to an overall contraction frequency around 50 Hz (often spoken of as about 50–60 Hz, and in practice a practical range around 50–75 Hz). This setup gives a strong, smooth tetanic contraction while keeping comfort and managing fatigue due to the high carrier while the rhythm is set by the bursts. So the appropriate range for the burst rate is about 50–75 bursts per second. Lower ranges would produce slower twitches, higher ranges are less typical for standard Russian protocols.