NMES, FES, and IFT increase which parameter?

• A. Active ROM
• B. Pain tolerance
• C. Muscle endurance
• D. Passive ROM

Answer: (D)

The key idea is that these electrical stimulation modalities help reduce muscle guarding, pain, and spasm, which lets a joint be moved through a larger arc passively. NMES can modulate muscle tone and fatigue patterns to make the muscle more amenable to stretch after contraction, FES supports functional activation patterns that can normalize tone and improve joint mobility, and IFT provides analgesia and improves local circulation, decreasing protective tightness around the joint. When the therapist or a device moves the limb without the patient actively contracting, the joint can be taken through a greater range because the resisting muscle is less tense and less painful. Active ROM and endurance depend more on patient-initiated contraction and strengthening work, while pain tolerance is influenced by analgesia—these modalities mainly facilitate increased passive ROM.