Background and Aim: Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS), which has become popular in recent years, has been used for many diseases, enhancing recovery against physiological and neurological effects. This study was planned to evaluate the efficacy of taVNS in post-exercise recovery in Post-COVID syndrome (PCS).

Methods: Individuals aged 18-45 with PCS were grouped into taVNS and placebo VNS categories, then engaged in aerobic exercise. 5-minute warm-up phase with a treadmill, 15 minutes of fast walking and 15 minutes of jogging were performed. Before and after exercise, participants were evaluated using the H10 Polar autonomic device and lactate meter. Group 1 received real taVNS and Group 2 received placebo taVNS, followed by the third evaluation.
Findings: There was a statistically significant difference in the evaluation parameters after post-exercise vagus application and placebo vagus application. PNS (p=0.009) and blood lactate level data (p=0.006) showed a significant increase in both groups, while the RMSSD index (p=0.028) decreased. SNS (p=0.01) and blood pressure (p=0.01) decreased similarly in both groups.

Conclusion: In our study, taVNS was observed to increase cardiac vagal control, while it was not effective on blood lactate level and blood pressure. Randomized controlled studies investigating the effect of taVNS recovery in different treatment groups are needed.