For strength settings, which is the typical on:off ratio?

• A. Depends
• B. 1:1
• C. 1:2
• D. 1:5

Answer: (D)

Strength training with electrical stimulation relies on a duty cycle that alternates active stimulation with rest. The aim is to elicit a strong contraction while giving the muscle enough recovery time so you can perform repeated, high-quality contractions. Because fatigue reduces force and engagement of motor units, a pattern with relatively long rest periods compared to the stimulation bursts is preferred. A common approach uses a short on-time followed by a much longer off-time, described as a 1:5 ratio. For example, about 10 seconds of stimulation followed by roughly 50 seconds of rest. This setup helps maintain contraction quality across reps, reduces fatigue, and supports safer, more effective strengthening. Shorter rest periods would cause quicker fatigue and poorer subsequent contractions, which is not ideal for building strength.