Effect of Transauricular Vagal Stimulation on Cardiac Function After Spinal Cord Injury

About this trial

This trial is enrolling 30 participants with chronic traumatic cervical spinal cord injury or lumbar spinal cord injury diagnosed with cauda equina syndrome) to test the effect of transauricular vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) on heart rate variability. VNS is a technique that uses mild electrical impulses on the skin (in this case on the ear) to stimulate the vagus nerve, a major nerve that helps regulate autonomic functions such as heart rate, digestion, and breathing. If included, participants will receive either active or sham VNS for 30 minutes a day on 10 consecutive days. Final testing of heart rate variability will be performed after 11 days.