If the stimulation is too painful, which parameter should you adjust?

• A. The duration
• B. The waveform
• C. The amplitude
• D. The electrode material

Answer: (C)

Pain from stimulation mainly comes from how strong the current is. The amplitude sets that strength, so lowering the amplitude reduces how many nerve fibers are activated and diminishes the painful sensation, often making the stimulation comfortable again while staying within safe limits. Changing the duration or the waveform can influence comfort to some extent, but they don’t control the immediate intensity as directly as the amplitude does. Electrode material affects skin impedance and comfort, not the core intensity of the stimulation. Once you’ve found a comfortable amplitude, you can adjust duration or waveform if needed to maintain effectiveness.