NMES Electrotherapy Practice Test

These questions are part of the practice quiz. Start practicing

• In patient education, what should be communicated before starting NMES?
• Which actions are recommended before initiating NMES to determine eligibility?
• What does low electrode impedance imply in NMES?
• How do symmetrical and asymmetrical biphasic pulses differ in NMES?
• What is a common patient experience when NMES is applied with no off time, besides fatigue?
• What are typical post-treatment care steps after NMES?
• What is the minimum distance between NMES electrodes?
• True or false: Volitional motor unit recruitment is more fatiguing due to synchronous recruitment.
• Why are denervated muscles beyond standard NMES device scope?
• What are the typical pulse durations for NMES strength training and FES?
• How should electrodes be aligned relative to the muscle?
• Which fiber type is largest, fastest, and fatigues quickly?
• Burst-modulated (Russian) current in NMES uses what concept?
• Which is the typical duration recommended for reciprocal inhibition NMES?
• In the lumbar paraspinal NMES setup, how is the pelvis positioned?
• Which of the following is an absolute contraindication to NMES?
• Which term describes a unit safety feature that helps detect issues at the skin-electrode interface before treatment begins?
• Why are very long pulse durations required for denervated muscles?
• Which area is generally restricted during NMES in pregnancy?
• What is the common on:off duty cycle for NMES strengthening?
• What role does electrode size play in current density and comfort?
• Which parameter is listed as increasing to achieve rapid muscle fatigue in NMES?
• For rapid fatigue NMES, what pulse duration is listed in the parameters?
• What happens to the interpulse interval as NMES frequency increases?
• What is the purpose of using a return electrode in NMES?
• Which current type is not typically used for stimulation of denervated muscle?
• Which muscle combination is commonly targeted by FES for hand function?
• What is an observed effect of NMES?
• What intensity level is used for FES during activity?
• NMES is good after meniscus procedures.
• Which fiber type is the smallest, has slow contraction speed, and is difficult to fatigue?
• Which practice helps prevent skin irritation during NMES sessions?
• NMES should not be used after a total knee arthroplasty (TKA).
• What is the purpose of monitoring the skin for burns during NMES?
• Which statement about typical FES usage best reflects practice?
• If there is a deficit in central activation ratio (CAR), voluntary strengthening is typically?
• How should you address patient fatigue during NMES sessions?
• What is done with the forearm in the NMES setup for rotator cuff strengthening?
• Which statement best describes the motor point in NMES?
• Which statement best describes how NMES influences motor unit recruitment during resistance training?
• What is the most common ramp time for NMES?
• In reciprocal inhibition NMES, which frequency range is used?
• What are the two common electrode configurations used in NMES?
• Approximately how long does NMES-induced hypertrophy take to become evident?
• Why is impedance checking important before NMES therapy?
• What causes arthrogenic muscle inhibition (AMI)?
• Why does functional electrical stimulation (FES) typically use a lower frequency (35-50 pps)?
• In the NMES strengthening setup for the rotator cuff, which arm position is described?
• What happens as current intensity increases during Russian current stimulation?
• What safety features should be checked on NMES units before use?
• During gait, when should the stim activate for foot drop?
• What is the burst rate (frequency) for Russian stimulation?
• How many NMES sessions per week are recommended to increase strength?
• If a patient cannot tolerate NMES, which general strategies and specific adjustments are recommended?
• If skin contact is inadequate during NMES, what is recommended?
• Where should electrodes be placed to strengthen the wrist extensors using NMES?
• NMES can increase muscle recruitment when?
• Which statement best describes the role of the return electrode in NMES?
• What is the effect of using a longer pulse duration on the amplitude needed to achieve the same contraction?
• What frequency range is generally used to achieve tetanic contractions in NMES for strengthening?
• Which fiber type does NMES primarily stimulate?
• NMES is used to activate which tissue through stimulation of intact peripheral nerves?
• Which items are included in pre-treatment safety checks for NMES?
• Common precautions to observe when applying NMES?
• Which method is used to measure inhibition by comparing voluntary contraction to an evoked response?
• What is a documented benefit of FES bicycle systems?
• How is duty cycle defined in NMES, and what is a typical strengthening setting?
• What is the primary goal when using NMES for strengthening?
• Which ethical step is essential before initiating NMES?
• Which statement about NMES-related fatigue is true?
• In NMES for reducing glenohumeral joint subluxation, which electrode arrangement best increases current density over the supraspinatus?
• What is the duty cycle and why is it important in NMES programming?
• Which statement best describes a characteristic of denervated muscle stimulation compared to innervated muscle stimulation?
• What considerations are there when using NMES with a patient who has a cast or joint immobilization?
• How can NMES assist with motor relearning after stroke?
• In NMES, the action potential travels in which directions?
• In agonist spasticity NMES, what is the recommended on/off setting to achieve fatigue?
• What is arthrogenic muscle inhibition (AMI)?
• In volitional contraction, large motor units are recruited as what occurs?
• Which of the following is a stopping criterion for NMES treatment?
• How does amplitude relate to contraction strength and comfort in NMES?
• Is NMES more successful in healthy individuals than in patient populations?
• Which statement about NMES frequency is NOT true?
• For NMES aimed at spasticity with maximal agonist contraction, what is the target frequency?
• What should a patient do if they experience discomfort or adverse effects during NMES?
• Why may NMES be more fatiguing than voluntary contraction?
• Which statement defines the CAR deficit threshold?
• A tetanic contraction is usually reached at how many pulses per second (pps)?
• What is the overload principle value used in NMES strengthening when MVIC cannot be measured?
• Monophasic or DC waveform is generally avoided for muscle contraction except for which condition?
• Patellar subluxation is usually lateral. During treatment, at which knee flexion angle is the patella most stable?
• Tetany in NMES occurs when frequency is increased to the point that what happens?
• How does NMES facilitate edema reduction?
• What is the typical recruitment order during NMES compared to voluntary contraction?
• What is 'stacking' in NMES and why is it undesirable?
• If NMES is applied with no off time, what is a likely outcome?
• How should you respond if the patient reports burning or significant discomfort during NMES?
• Which statement best describes NMES for denervated versus innervated muscle in terms of current and pulse duration?
• Which statement best differentiates NMES from conventional TENS?
• For NMES, what is the typical aim of biphasic pulses (symmetrical or asymmetrical)?
• What is a typical session duration for an NMES strengthening protocol?
• Why is skin integrity important in NMES and what steps should be taken before treatment?
• What is the carrier frequency for Russian stimulation?
• What is a motor point and why is it important in NMES setup?
• What is the instruction for intensity in lumbar paraspinal NMES?
• What is the typical on/off time ratio used for NMES and FES?
• What is the primary rehabilitation purpose of NMES?
• Which fiber type is fatigue resistant and has intermediate contraction speed?
• For NMES addressing spasticity via reciprocal inhibition (antagonist), what is the goal?
• What is a typical approach to reassessing strength and functional outcomes during NMES strength training?
• Which parameters are the same for Russian stimulation and pulsed NMES?
• How can you recruit more motor units electrically?
• True or False: Using direct current for stimulation of denervated muscle is supported by the literature.
• To stimulate denervated muscle, which parameter must be increased?
• Which of the following is NOT a typical muscle group stimulated by FES bicycle systems?
• Which safety feature should be verified on NMES equipment before use?
• Which fiber type is recruited for volitional contraction versus NMES?
• How should NMES be applied when a patient has bilateral limb involvement?
• After ACL reconstruction, NMES is recommended at approximately which postoperative timeframe?
• What is a common goal of NMES when used for strengthening programs?
• The amplitude for DF assist should be enough to achieve which strength contraction?
• A deficit in central activation ratio (CAR) indicates?
• When targeting proximal limb muscles, what anatomical considerations influence electrode placement?
• Larger muscles require a longer pulse duration (PD) to recruit motor units.
• To strengthen wrist extensors with NMES, which parameter set is appropriate?
• Which statement best describes why NMES can be more fatiguing than voluntary contraction?
• What happens to force production when frequency is increased beyond the plateau frequency?
• How should electrodes be placed to optimize motor response for NMES of a limb muscle?
• What is the typical pulse duration range used for motor recruitment?
• If the pulse duration is increased, what happens to the amplitude needed to achieve the same contraction?
• What is burst-modulated (Russian) current and its purported benefit?
• What is usually the lowest frequency for motor unit recruitment in FES for shoulder subluxation?
• What on/off cycle is used for reciprocal inhibition NMES?
• What ramp time is recommended when programming NMES for wrist extensor strengthening?
• NMES for gait retraining is commonly used to improve which movement?
• DF assist targets which ankle movement during gait?
• Stimulation of denervated muscle uses which type of current?
• Where are the electrodes placed for lumbar paraspinal NMES?
• What is the role of gamma motor neurons in NMES?
• Why is lumbar paraspinal NMES considered appropriate for older adults?
• What is a sensible progression strategy for NMES strength training over weeks?
• In Russian stimulation, what is a 'burst'?
• Muscle atrophy is approximately what percent if exposed to microgravity for more than six months?
• FES can be used as an orthotic substitution for which conditions?
• In neuromuscular re-education, which outcome indicates progression?
• Russian current is what percent of MVIC?
• How can NMES be integrated with voluntary exercise for synergistic effects?
• How would you document patient safety and response to NMES?
• Why is it important to avoid cross-talk when using bilateral NMES channels?
• What is the guideline for intensity in NMES/pulsed stimulation?
• Which practice helps improve patient comfort during NMES sessions?
• Which of the following is a key safety check before starting NMES?
• For edema management or muscle pump NMES, which duty cycle is typical?
• NMES activates sensory and motor fibers. What should you educate your patient about?
• In which scenarios might NMES be used for functional electrical stimulation (FES)?
• Which waveform type is generally avoided for muscle contraction in NMES?
• After an Achilles tendon repair, should you perform maximal contraction early?
• Why is the pulse duration range for DF assist set to 200-350 microseconds?
• When using NMES to increase strength, which setup is recommended?
• How do motor unit recruitment patterns differ between volitional and NMES contractions?
• Which motor units are recruited first in volitional contraction and in NMES?
• For FES hand function, which muscles are typically stimulated?
• What is the ramp time range for Russian stimulation and pulsed NMES?
• What is the recommended ramp time in NMES and why?
• In NMES for spasticity targeting the agonist, what is the recommended ramp setting?
• Which of the following is a warning sign that NMES may be causing tissue damage?
• During lateral patellar subluxation, what knee angle provides the patella with maximum stability?
• For agonist spasticity NMES aimed at maximal contraction, what is the typical duration?
• For NMES rotator cuff strengthening, what intensity is used?
• Which statement best describes the purpose of NMES-FES in neuromuscular impairment rehabilitation?
• Which terms describe the two directions of action potentials in NMES?
• Which symptom after NMES should be reported as a potential adverse effect?
• FES has no on/off times.
• What does NMES stand for?
• For the quadriceps, the force plateau typically occurs at what range of pps?
• What is the duty cycle of a burst in Russian stimulation?
• In NMES lumbar paraspinal strengthening, how is the patient positioned?