Final answer:
The common pulse rate for NMES is 30-40 impulses per minute. The rate progressively slows as the impulse spreads to other conducting cells in the heart, with the AV node, bundle branches, and Purkinje fibers firing at lower rates.
Step-by-step explanation:
The common pulse rate for NMES (muscle re-education, muscle strengthening, muscle endurance, and hypertrophy) is 30-40 impulses per minute (pps).
The SA node, without nervous or endocrine control, typically generates a heart impulse approximately 80-100 times per minute. As the impulse spreads to other conducting cells, the rate progressively slows, with the AV node firing at a rate of 40-60 pps, bundle branches at 20-30 pps, and Purkinje fibers at 15-20 pps.
While the resting heart rates for most individuals are higher than 50 pps, lower rates could indicate a condition called bradycardia which can lead to decreased function across systems and ultimately death.