The Vagus Nerve: Your Body’s Reset Button
At Empower Movement Physical Therapy, we often say that the body isn’t just muscles and joints; it’s a complex system of structures, nerves, and connections that all work together. And one of the most powerful (yet overlooked) players in this system is the vagus nerve.
Known as the body’s “reset button,” the vagus nerve helps regulate everything from breathing and heart rate to digestion and stress response. When it’s not functioning well, you may experience symptoms like:
Mouth breathing
Sleep apnea or snoring
Headaches
Poor pressure regulation (ears, sinuses, or even blood pressure)
Difficulty relaxing or recovering
Sound familiar? You’re not alone. Many patients don’t even realize these issues are tied to vagus nerve dysfunction.
Quick self-check #1:
Stick out your tongue. Does it look narrow and short? Ideally, we want it wide and long!
Quick self-check #2
Gently press on the muscle just behind your ear—the SCM (sternocleidomastoid). If it feels sore or tender (on one side or both), it may be compressing part of the vagus nerve as it travels outward.
What We Do at Empower Movement PT
Our treatment approach is all about addressing the root cause not just chasing symptoms. With the vagus nerve, that means releasing restrictions and optimizing the structures it interacts with so it can do its job.
Here’s how treatment can look:
Vagus Nerve Release
Gentle techniques to free restrictions along the nerve’s pathway.
Upper Trunk + Cranial Work
Addressing cranial bones, intranasal restrictions, tongue, and anterior neck tension.
Structural Realignment
Looking at how you were born and how your body has adapted over time.
Breathing + Airway Support
Addressing mouth breathing, sleep apnea, and faulty pressure regulation patterns.
How You Feel After Treatment
Patients often describe their results as subtle but profound. Common feedback includes:
Breathing feels easier, more natural, not forced.
Improved HRV (heart rate variability) and overall nervous system balance.
A sense of lightness in the face and neck.
Less tension in the head and jaw.
Feeling more relaxed and regulated, both physically and emotionally.
Why It Matters
When the vagus nerve is freed and functioning well, your entire system shifts toward healing. It’s not just about better breathing or fewer headaches—it’s about restoring your body’s ability to regulate, recover, and thrive.
Final Takeaway
At Empower Movement Physical Therapy, vagus nerve work is part of our holistic approach to care. By addressing cranial structures, breathing patterns, and nervous system function, we help patients experience lasting relief, better energy, and greater resilience.
Because true healing isn’t just about treating pain it’s about untethering the body so it can function the way it was designed to.