Neck stretches could tune your vagus nerve, study suggests
NCT ID NCT06541808
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This completed study tested three different intensities of gentle neck movements designed to stimulate the vagus nerve in 128 healthy adults. Researchers measured changes in heart rate, balance, pain sensitivity, and digestion (via stool samples). The goal was to find the best 'dose' of this non-invasive technique, which might one day help with conditions like chronic pain, dizziness, or digestive issues.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- mechanical vagus nerve stimulation (gentle neck movements)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could point toward a non-invasive, drug-free way to influence heart rate, balance, pain, and digestion, potentially helping conditions like chronic pain or autonomic disorders.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-phase study in healthy adults, not patients. The effects may not translate to real-world treatments, and the optimal dosage is still unclear.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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UVienna
Vienna, State of Vienna, 1090, Austria
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