The effect of transcutaneous auricular vagal nerve stimulating on the patient's functional level and the autonomous nervous system in addition to robotic rehabilitation and robotic rehabilitation in patients with ischemic stroke

This study was conducted in patients with ischemic stroke; The aim of this study was to examine the effect of transcutaneous auricular vagal nerve stimulation applied in addition to robotic rehabilitation and robotic rehabilitation on the patient's functional level and autonomic nervous system. Forty people over the age of 18 participated in the study. They were randomly divided into two groups as robotic rehabilitation and transcutaneous auricular vagal nerve stimulation group applied in addition to robotic rehabilitation. While the robotic rehabilitation group received Lokomat and neurological rehabilitation, the other group was stimulated with Lokomat and the Vagustim device, which was applied non-invasively through the ear in addition to neurological rehabilitation. Spasticity, autonomic nervous system, walking speed, motor function, quality of life, muscle activity, and pain were evaluated before and six weeks after treatment in both groups. Significance was evaluated at the p<0.05 level in the study. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of age, height, weight and body mass index of the participants (p>0.05). In the comparison made within the group, there was a significant difference in the data except the RMSSD, SDNN, PNN50, Total Power, LF/HF Ratio, LF Power, HF Power and Pain Scale in the robotic rehabilitation group (p<0.05). In the transcutaneous auricular vagal nerve stimulation group applied in addition to robotic rehabilitation, there was a significant difference in the data except for RMSSD, SDNN, PNN50, Total Power, LF/HF Ratio, HF Power, LF Power, LF Peak and HF Peak parameters (p>0.05). When we compared the groups, the 10-meter Walk Test and the Numerical Pain Scale were found to be superior in the transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation group applied in addition to robotic rehabilitation. On the other hand, Mean RR Interval and HF Peak values were superior only in the robotic rehabilitation group. In the remaining parameters, no superiority was observed between the groups. As a result of the study, we believe that it may be beneficial to apply transcutaneous auricular vagal nerve stimulation treatment in addition to the treatment protocol to be applied in patients with ischemic stroke.