Deck 10: Clinical Electrical Stimulation: Application and Techniques

Question 1

What is a "motor point"?

A) Location of receptors in the skin that best respond to electrical stimulation
B) Place where the greatest motor response is found for a given amount of stimulation
C) Point over a muscle where point stimulation will locate greatest resistance to current
D) Hypothetical location of alpha motor neuron in the muscle

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Which of the following most likely explains the physiological response to noxious-level stimulation (hyperstimulation) that results in analgesia?

A) Release of endogenous opioids in the central nervous system
B) Closing the "gate" to nociception in the spinal cord
C) Blocking of nociceptive receptors in the skin
D) Release of histamine and prostaglandins into the circulatory system

Answer 2

A

Question 3

What will happen to the current density under each electrode if lead wires are bifurcated and attached to multiple electrodes?

A) Decreased at each individual electrode
B) Increased at each individual electrode
C) Decreased at the original electrodes and increased under the newly added electrodes
D) No change

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which electrode choice below is most appropriate when the goal of electrical stimulation is to produce a strong muscle contraction in a large muscle group, such as the quadriceps?

A) Any size electrode will work as long as it is over the motor point of the muscle.
B) Large electrodes will help disperse the current over a larger area to improve patient tolerance.
C) Small electrodes are best because motor threshold stimulation requires a high current density.
D) A probe electrode is best because it focuses the stimulation on the motor points of the muscle.

Question 5

Which of the following statements best summarizes the research on neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) for muscle strengthening?

A) The strength benefits of NMES are superior to no exercise at all for healthy muscle.
B) In the initial periods of rehabilitation the strength benefits of NMES are not superior to voluntary exercise in weakened muscle.
C) There is no correlation between the intensity of NMES and strength gains.
D) NMES is no better than exercise for strengthening healthy muscle.

Question 6

When using balanced biphasic pulsed current for treatment, what is the correct attachment of the lead wires to the electrodes?

A) The red wire must be attached to the anode and the black wire to the cathode.
B) The red wire must be attached to the cathode and the black wire to the anode.
C) The red wire must be attached to the dispersive pad and the black wire to the smaller electrode.
D) Wire color does not matter for this type of current.

Question 7

What is the relationship between current density and electrode size?

A) Current density is directly proportional to electrode size.
B) Density depends on the intensity of the current and not electrode size.
C) For every square centimeter of electrode there is a twofold increase in density.
D) Current density is inversely proportional to electrode size.

Question 8

Which of the following is the correct equation for determining the dosage for iontophoresis treatments?

A) Dosage (μA·pps) = Current (μamp) × Frequency (pps)
B) Dosage (mA·min) = Current (mA) × Duration (min)
C) Dosage (V·sec) = Voltage (V) × Duration (sec)
D) Dosage (V/pps) = Voltage (V) × Frequency (pps)

Question 9

Which of the following will occur in a constant current (CC) device if the resistance to current flow in biological tissues increases?

A) Voltage will increase.
B) Current will increase.
C) Voltage will decrease.
D) Current will increase.

Question 10

Patients with vasospastic disorders may benefit from which of the following types of stimulation to improve peripheral blood flow?

A) NMES to large muscles closest to the body part that is affected
B) Iontophoresis with dexamethasone
C) Motor-level stimulation for 15 to 30 minutes
D) Subsensory stimulation using direct current for 10 to 15 minutes

Question 11

When performing electrical stimulation for tissue healing, galvanotaxis may help promote healing of the wound because

A) Galvanotaxis has a bacteriocidal effect.
B) Histamine and prostaglandins are released into the wound.
C) Calcium fluxes facilitate depolarization of excitable cell membranes.
D) Cells associated with healing migrate toward the opposite-charge pole in the electric field.

Question 12

Inhibition of edema following trauma may be effective if the following is performed

A) Sensory level stimulation for 10 minutes every hour for the first week following trauma
B) Motor level stimulation for 30 minutes two to three times a day for the first 2 days after trauma
C) Sensory level stimulation for 30 minutes or several hours during the first 24 to 72 hours
D) Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) performing rhythmic contractions of muscles in the area of the trauma

Question 13

Which pair of parameters is most commonly varied or manipulated to elicit the various forms of TENS such as conventional, acupuncture, and burst train?

A) Frequency and amplitude
B) Frequency and rise time
C) Frequency and pulse duration
D) Pulse duration and waveform shape

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT believed to occur during treatments using iontophoresis?

A) Electromigration
B) Electroporation
C) Electrosaturation
D) Electroosmosis

Question 15

Which of the following electrode placements is best for achieving a contraction of the wrist extensors?

A) One electrode proximal near the elbow and the other distal near the wrist
B) Cross-section arrangement on the forearm, one anterior and one posterior
C) Close together over the wrist extensor muscles in the forearm
D) One large electrode over the muscle belly and a smaller electrode distally near the wrist

Question 16

When performing motor-level stimulation for pain control, what clinical response is expected?

A) Comfortable tingling or buzzing feeling in the area of pain
B) Muscle twitching, which may be accompanied by prickling and stinging sensations
C) Muscle contraction and a feeling of deep pressure in the muscle
D) A painful sensation under the electrodes that may cause anesthesia

Question 17

Which of the following best describes the goal of functional electrical stimulation (FES)?

A) Increased strength of stimulated muscles
B) Facilitation and improvement of purposeful movement
C) Prevention of loss of sensation in neurologically involved limbs
D) Decreased pain to enable functional activities

Question 18

Which of the following statements is correct regarding electrode placement?

A) Current will travel through deeper tissues when electrodes are closer together.
B) Electrodes can overlap one another up to one-third of the area of the electrode.
C) The best electrode placement for a given treatment may require some trial and error.
D) Electrodes should not be placed directly over peripheral nerve trunks.

Question 19

Which of the following correctly describes "pulse duration"?

A) Time from the beginning of the first phase to the end of the second phase
B) Total time elapsed from beginning to end of all phases, including interphase interval
C) Total time elapsed from beginning to end of all phases, not including any interphase intervals
D) Time of one pulse, not including any phases or intervals

Question 20

How often can a typical disposable electrode be reused before it should be discarded?

A) Once
B) Twice
C) Depends on the amount of adhesive gel that is applied to the electrode
D) 15 to 20 times