If you follow health and wellbeing news, it’s likely you’ll be hearing a lot more about the vagus nerve over the coming year.
Once largely discussed only in medical circles, it’s now gaining wider attention because of the crucial role it plays in how we feel, function, and recover – particularly as we get older.
As a specialist physiotherapist, I work mainly with people over the age of 50 who value their long-term health and independence, not just the relief of pain or injury. For many of them, understanding the vagus nerve has been a genuine lightbulb moment.
The vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve in the body. It runs from the brainstem, through the neck, chest and abdomen, connecting the brain with key organs including the heart, lungs and digestive system. It is a major part of the parasympathetic nervous system – often described as our “rest and digest” system – which balances the body’s “fight or flight” stress response.
When the vagus nerve is functioning well, it helps regulate heart rate, breathing, digestion, immune responses and even mood. It plays a key role in calming the nervous system after stress, improving sleep quality, supporting gut health and aiding recovery from illness or injury. As we age, however, chronic stress, pain, poor sleep, inflammation and reduced physical resilience can all reduce what’s known as vagal tone – the nerve’s ability to do its job effectively.
Traditionally, vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is associated with hospital-based treatments, but non-invasive approaches are now becoming more accessible in clinical settings such as physiotherapy. These aim to gently stimulate the nerve to encourage a shift towards a calmer, more regulated nervous system state.
In practice, supporting the vagus nerve can help reduce pain sensitivity, improve stress tolerance and support better sleep and digestion. For people who feel stuck in a cycle of flare-ups, fatigue or constant tension, this can be a turning point – not because it “fixes” everything, but because it helps the body feel safer and more able to recover.
One technology gaining attention in this area is Stimpod neuromodulation. Stimpod is a non-invasive device that delivers targeted pulsed electrical stimulation to influence nerve activity without needles or surgery. In clinical practice, it can be used to support vagus nerve stimulation as part of a broader, personalised treatment plan.
What makes Stimpod particularly effective is its ability to work with the nervous system rather than simply masking symptoms. Many patients report not only reduced pain, but also improved relaxation, breathing, sleep and overall wellbeing after sessions. For active adults who want to keep golfing, walking, running or simply enjoying life without constant setbacks, this approach can be transformative.
It’s important to stress that vagus nerve stimulation isn’t a magic fix. It works best when combined with movement, strength training, breathing strategies, lifestyle changes and hands-on physiotherapy. However, as our understanding of the nervous system deepens, it’s clear that addressing how the body regulates itself is just as important as treating muscles and joints.
So, if you start hearing more about the vagus nerve in the months ahead, it’s for good reason. Supporting it may be one of the most important – and overlooked – ways to protect our health, resilience and quality of life as we age.
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