Which statement best describes the purpose of NMES?

• A. To heat tissue
• B. To stimulate muscles to activate motion, strengthen, and prevent atrophy
• C. To measure nerve conduction
• D. To reduce inflammation

Answer: (B)

NMES delivers electrical pulses to motor nerves or muscles to elicit contractions. Its goal is to activate muscles to produce movement, help strengthen them, and prevent disuse atrophy when voluntary contractions are limited. This makes it especially useful in rehabilitation for maintaining or rebuilding muscle function and supporting motor relearning. Heating tissue is not NMES; that would be a thermotherapy. Measuring nerve conduction is a diagnostic test, not a therapeutic modality. Reducing inflammation is typically addressed by other strategies; NMES isn’t primarily used for that purpose.