The occurrence of negative consequences (e.g., painful tetanic muscle contractions) associated with the onset response associated with kilohertz frequency alternating current (KHFAC) electrical nerve block can be reduced by fatiguing a muscle (through depletion of neurotransmitters at the neuromuscular junction, within a second) before applying KHFAC electrical nerve block to a nerve associated with the muscle. The nerve can first be stimulated with an electrical signal for a first time period to fatigue the muscle. Then, immediately following the first time period (while the muscle is fatigued), a blocking electrical signal (e.g., a kilohertz frequency alternating current waveform) can be applied to the nerve to create a localized nerve block.
FATIGUING A MUSCLE TO REDUCE ONSET RESPONSE