Effects of auricular vagus nerve stimulation and aerobic training in individuals with hypertension - Protocol for a controlled, randomized, and blind clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: Hypertensive individuals experience chronic inflammation, higher sympathetic nervous system activity, and decreased functional capacity. While Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) and aerobic training have shown benefits for hypertension, their combined effects have not been explored. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of taVNS combined with aerobic training on blood pressure, cardiac autonomic modulation, inflammation, oxidative stress, and functional capacity in individuals with hypertension. METHODS: This protocol outlines a randomized, controlled, single-blind clinical trial involving hypertensive adults. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: aerobic training with taVNS, aerobic training alone, or taVNS alone. Aerobic training will consist of 50 min of stationary cycling, while taVNS will be applied using a neuromuscular stimulator with an electrode placed on the left ear for 30 min. The intervention will be administered three times per week for 8 weeks, totaling 24 sessions. The primary outcome is blood pressure measurement, while secondary outcomes include heart rate variability, functional capacity, serum inflammatory mediators, and biomarkers of systemic oxidative stress. Assessments will be conducted before the intervention, after 24 sessions, and 30 days of post-treatment. RESULTS: The groups will be compared to the outcome measures to determine the taVNS benefits combined with aerobic training for hypertensive individuals. CONCLUSION: This is the first clinical trial to assess the taVNS effects combined with physical exercise in hypertensive individuals. The study will provide data on this approach's efficacy for improving blood pressure, cardiac autonomic modulation, oxidative stress, and functional capacity in hypertensive people.