Transauricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Chronic Whiplash Associated Disorders
The Safety and Feasibility of Transauricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation Therapy in Chronic Whiplash-Associated Disorders: A Randomized Pilot Trial
University of Calgary
40 participants
Jan 21, 2026
INTERVENTIONAL
Summary
Approximately 50% of people with chronic whiplash-associated disorders (WAD) continue to report the presence of symptoms 12 months post-injury. These symptoms include high levels of pain and disability as well as psychological symptoms such as post-traumatic stress. The nervous system may also be affected, specifically the autonomic nervous system which is responsible for regulating heart rate and blood pressure. An important part of the autonomic system is the vagus nerve, which helps regulate pain and stress responses. Treatment of this nerve via transauricular vagal nerve stimulation (taVNS) has been shown to improve health outcomes in many pain conditions such as chronic low back pain and postural tachycardia syndrome. TaVNS works by sending mild electrical pulses through the ear. This project aims to explore whether or not taVNS can help people with chronic whiplash-associated disorders (WAD) feel better. The first goal is to evaluate the safety and feasibility of taVNS. The investigators are interested in learning how many people with chronic WAD participate in the study and how many complete the full treatment, as well as ensuring that the treatment does not cause any serious side effects. An additional goal is to evaluate the effects of taVNS on neck pain intensity and associated disability, pain sensitivity, heart rate variability, blood pressure, quality of life, post-traumatic stress, stress, anxiety, and depression as measured by questionnaires and physical assessments, as compared to those assigned to the sham treatment.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria4
- Symptom duration ≥3 months and <10 years; and
- Classifiable as WAD grade I (neck pain without physical impairments) or II (neck pain \& impairment such as movement loss and/or tenderness) or III (neck pain \& neurological deficit evident on physical exam);
- Average pain intensity (over one week) ≥ 4/10;
- Neck Disability Index score > 28% (14/50).
Exclusion Criteria11
- WAD IV injury (no neurological deficit, fracture, or dislocation);
- Concussion symptoms;
- Patients who have undergone cervical vagotomy;
- Patients diagnosed with severe bradycardia;
- Patients with a permanent implanted metallic or electronic device or jewellery at close proximity to the ear tragus;
- Patients with any active implanted device (including electronic and/or medical devices) e.g. cochlear implant, cerebral shunts, invasive vagus nerve stimulators, or non-active but potentially interacting with the nervous system (e.g., metal implants);
- Open wounds or rashes, swollen, red, infected, or inflamed areas or skin eruptions (e.g., phlebitis, thrombophlebitis, varicose veins); or cancerous lesions in the area of stimulation
- Using medications associated with ANS function such as Beta Blockers;
- Adverse general health factors such as presence of a neurological disorder (e.g., multiple sclerosis), inflammatory condition (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis), cardiovascular disorder (known severe coronary disease or recent myocardial infarction (within 5 years)); metabolic disorder (e.g., diabetes), visual deficit or disease process (e.g. cataracts, double or blurred vision), known or suspected serious spinal pathology (e.g. metastatic disease of the spine), pregnancy, or previous spinal surgery or recurrent treatment for spinal disorders;
- History of any mental health conditions prior to the MVC, such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety, PTSD or severe depression;
- People who are unable to complete the questionnaires.
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Interventions
Transauricular VNS will be administered using the Parasym aVNT (auricular vagal neuromodulation therapy) Device (Nurosym, London, UK). The Parasym aVNT Device delivers non-invasive neuromodulation targeting the auricular branch of the vagus nerve via the tragus of the outer ear. All participants will receive four weeks of twice daily (morning and evening) 45-minute sessions of taVNS (frequency ≥ 25Hz; pulse width =250µs (Fig). The safety and tolerability of taVNS has been demonstrated in seven studies with a total of 205 (116 active, 121 sham) cardiovascular patients. Stimulation protocols ranged from 43 min to 8 hrs daily, for 1 day to 6 months. There were no device-related serious adverse events. Three patients (1.5%) experienced minor adverse events, i.e., dermal paresthesias (light tingling at the ear). No differences in tolerability were observed between active and sham taVNS \[21\].
Locations(1)
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NCT07055373