Early FES/NMES intervention in rehabilitation can be valuable for patients with musculoskeletal, neurological or orthopaedic disorders. As clinical treatment goals are identified FES/NMES should be considered for:
Maximizing motor recruitment – obtaining a muscle contraction from a weak, neurologically deprived or de-conditioned muscle where NMES can provide repetitive muscle activation necessary for addressing muscle atrophy and building muscle endurance. Examples of lower limb muscles that can be considered for NMES include gluteal, quadriceps muscles or stimulation of the common peroneal nerve for ankle dorsiflexion recruitment in stroke rehab.

Prevention of muscle atrophy is a key goal in early use of NMES.