If exercising is always a struggle, new research may help. A study from Queen Mary Univ. and University College London found that electrically stimulating the vagus nerve can make the body more efficient during exercise. The vagus nerve runs from the brain through the neck and chest down to the abdomen. By applying an electric current to the ear for 30 minutes, exercising was much easier for people in the study.
A device clipped to the ear delivered gentle electric stimulation to the nerve. The nerve plays a role in heart regulation and other bodily systems. After using the device for seven days, oxygen uptake increased by four percent. Their maximum breathing rate also increased by four breaths a minute, and their pulse increased by four beats a minute. It made exercising easier. People wearing placebo devices in a control group didn’t see the same improvements. Looking at blood samples, they found that people using the device had lower levels of inflammation.
“This early study suggests that a simple technology, which harnesses the connection between the heart and the brain, can lead to improvements in fitness and exercise tolerance,” said Prof. Bryan Williams, the chief scientific and medical officer at the British Heart Foundation. The British Heart Foundation funded the study. “While more research is needed involving people with cardiovascular disease, this could one day be used as a tool to improve wellbeing and quality of life for people with heart failure.”
The team hopes that the research could help people with heart failure become more physically active. However, this could be a big breakthrough for the exercise world in general. Many people find exercise difficult. It can be especially difficult to start exercising. If a person is out of shape, a device like this might help to kickstart a health journey and make getting up and moving easier. If exercising is less of a chore, it can feel more rewarding and less arduous, making people more likely to stick with a routine and see healthy results.
The study used 28 people who did not have health concerns. Larger studies with a wider variety of people are needed to confirm the results. While the early work is promising, it’s too early to say that these results will hold true for everyone.
