Ep 537 – Vagus Nerve Stimulator: “I Have a Client Who . . .” Pathology Conversations with Ruth Werner

A simple question turned into a deep dive, and I learned a ton along the way! A client has an implanted vagus nerve stimulator. Now what?

In this episode of I Have a Client Who . . ., Ruth explores how vagus nerve stimulators work, why they’re used, and the precautions massage therapists should consider. Plus, we discuss the exciting possibilities these devices hold for a wide range of treatments.

Resources:

Ben-Menachem, E. (2001) “Vagus nerve stimulation, side effects, and long-term safety,” Journal of Clinical Neurophysiology: Official Publication of the American Electroencephalographic Society, 18(5), pp. 415–418. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1097/00004691-200109000-00005.

Lerman, I. et al. (2019) “Noninvasive vagus nerve stimulation alters neural response and physiological autonomic tone to noxious thermal challenge,” PLoS ONE, 14(2), p. e0201212. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0201212.

Mandalaneni, K. and Rayi, A. (2025) “Vagus Nerve Stimulator,” in StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562175/ (Accessed: October 22, 2025).

Olsen, L.K. et al. (2023) “Vagus nerve stimulation: mechanisms and factors involved in memory enhancement,” Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 17. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2023.1152064.

Tariq, K. et al. (2020) “A case report of Vagus nerve stimulation for intractable hiccups,” International Journal of Surgery Case Reports, 78, pp. 219–222. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijscr.2020.12.023.

UCL (2025) Vagus nerve stimulation could help people get more exercise, UCL News. Available at: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2025/jul/vagus-nerve-stimulation-could-help-people-get-more-exercise (Accessed: October 22, 2025).

Vagus Nerve (no date) Physiopedia. Available at: https://www.physio-pedia.com/Vagus_Nerve (Accessed: October 22, 2025).

Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS): What It Is, Uses & Side Effects (no date) Cleveland Clinic. Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/17598-vagus-nerve-stimulation (Accessed: October 18, 2025).

Wu, Q. et al. (2024) “Current status of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation for tinnitus: a narrative review of modern research,” Frontiers in Neuroscience, 18, p. 1405310. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2024.1405310.