In NMES for strengthening, what are typical on:off times?

• A. On 10-15 s; off 40-60 s; ramp 1-2 s.
• B. On 30-60 s; off 10-20 s; ramp 0 s.
• C. On 5-10 s; off 5 s; ramp 0.5 s.
• D. On 60-90 s; off 60-90 s; ramp 3 s.

Answer: (A)

For strengthening with NMES, the goal is to produce a strong, controlled contraction while allowing enough recovery between bursts to prevent rapid fatigue. Using a relatively brief on-time, about 10–15 seconds, delivers a solid tetanic contraction without sustaining fatigue across repeated reps. The off-time should be longer, roughly 40–60 seconds, to restore energy stores and clear metabolites so you can perform additional contractions in the same session. A ramp of about 1–2 seconds helps the current come on gradually, reducing sudden jerk or discomfort and protecting joints and muscles from abrupt loading. Patterns with longer on-times or much shorter rest quickly wear the muscle down, while very short rests with longer on-times hinder the ability to complete multiple contractions effectively. That’s why the typical duty cycle for strengthening is 10–15 seconds on, 40–60 seconds off, with a 1–2 second ramp.