Effects of Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Recovery

Not Applicable

Recruiting

• Conditions: Fatigue; Recovery, Psychological

• Registration Number: NCT06566118
• Lead Sponsor: Istanbul Gelisim University

Brief Summary

During the recovery process, the activity of the sympathetic system decreases, while the activity of the parasympathetic system increases. In line with this information, the nervous system can be regulated in a noninvasive and practical way by using transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation in order to achieve rapid recovery in the athlete after the activity.

Detailed Description

In sports where physical loads are high, athletes can usually participate in more than one training or race during the day. Such work increases the athlete's fatigue, affects their performance and can cause serious declines. Therefore, an efficient and effective recovery process after high-intensity work and training that causes a decrease in performance is also very important for the athlete's next performance.

With the start of sports activity or exercise, sympathetic activation in the body increases and after a while reaches a plateau value at maximum activity. With the end of exercise, this time the suppressed parasympathetic activity begins to increase and the sympathetic system returns to a resting state over time.

There are insufficient studies in the literature investigating the use of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation on the athletic population. Although it is clear that the application has effects on the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, more clinical research is needed on athletes. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of auricular vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) on vagal activity by examining the effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on recovery in amateur athletes through applications such as pulse and SpO2, blood pressure, perceived fatigue, and respiratory function tests.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2024-08-15
• Study First Submitted QC: 2024-08-19
• Study First Posted: 2024-08-22
• Status Verified: 2025-08
• Study Start: 2025-08-01
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-08-06
• Last Update Posted: 2025-08-11
• Primary Completion: 2025-09-15
• Study Completion: 2025-09-15

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: Male
• Target Recruitment: 40

Inclusion Criteria

• Being healthy between the ages of 18-25,
• Volunteering to participate in the study,
• Signing the voluntary consent form,
• Being an amateur football player who continues his/her active sports life,
• Not having an injury that prevents participation in the study.

Exclusion Criteria

• Having a disease related to the respiratory system,
• Having a disease related to the cardiac system,
• Having any chronic disease and using a medication related to it.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Respiratory Function Test	2 Months	In our study, FEV1 measurement were calculated using a MiniSpir2 brand spirometer device. The measurements were performed while the participants were sitting in a fixed chair. The measurements were repeated 3 times for each participant and the two highest values read on the device were recorded as an average.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
BORG Perceived Fatigue Measurement	2 Months	The Borg Perceived Fatigue Scale was used to assess the degree of fatigue perceived by the participants. BORG is a scale developed to assess the level of strain experienced by individuals during physical activities. This scale is based on physical measures such as respiratory rate, heart rate, muscle fatigue and sweating perceived by individuals during physical exertion. The scale is scored between 6 and 20. If the participant's perceived muscle fatigue is very mild, a score of 9 is given. Scores between 12 and 14 on BORG indicate that the exertion is moderate. If the individual perceives that they are exerting very much, a score of 19 is given.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

İstanbul Gelisim University; 🇹🇷 Istanbul, Turkey