A method of identifying a location for applying a stimulation therapy to treat a patient includes stimulating a first body region of the patient transcutaneously via a stimulus generator. The body region contains a first portion of a nerve that has an elongate shape. In response to the stimulating, action potentials received from a second portion of the nerve are monitored over a period of time. The second portion of the nerve is in a second body region of the patient that is located remotely from the first body region. Based on the monitoring, an optimized location of the second portion of the nerve is determined for applying the stimulation therapy to treat the first body region.