What should a patient do if they experience discomfort or adverse effects during NMES?

• A. Continue treatment without reporting.
• B. Report discomfort or adverse effects to the clinician.
• C. Increase intensity until discomfort stops.
• D. Skip to the next exercise.

Answer: (B)

Safety in NMES relies on patient feedback. If discomfort or adverse effects occur, report it to the clinician immediately. Discomfort can mean the current is too strong, electrodes aren’t placed properly, or the skin is irritated or damaged. The clinician can pause treatment, inspect the skin and electrodes, and adjust parameters such as lowering intensity, shortening pulse duration, changing the ramp, or repositioning the electrodes to achieve a comfortable, tolerable contraction. They may also reassess whether NMES is appropriate at that moment or modify the plan. Continuing at the same or higher intensity, or skipping ahead, risks burns or tissue injury and won’t address the issue.