VNS analysis

Stress, ongoing strain, and a lack of rest can affect your physical well-being and your ability to cope with pain. With the VNS analysis, we at the ROC also assess how adaptable your body’s autonomic regulation is at the time of the examination.

The test is based on heart rate variability, or HRV for short. The measurement is taken using a chest strap and takes only a few minutes. The results are then discussed with you and interpreted in the context of your personal situation.

What is the autonomic nervous system?

The vegetative nervous system—also known as the autonomic nervous system—regulates numerous bodily functions that we do not consciously control. These include, for example, heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, and digestion.

In simple terms, there are two categories:

• The sympathetic nervous system promotes activity, alertness, and the body's response to stress.
• The parasympathetic nervous system is involved in, among other things, rest, relaxation, and recovery.

Both components work together in a complex interplay. Heart rate variability is one of the ways to assess how flexibly the body can adapt to different demands.

What is measured during a VNS analysis?

An elastic chest strap records each heartbeat and transmits the measurement data to the analysis software. The data analyzed includes, among other things:

• the intervals between heartbeats
• heart rate variability
• the RMSSD value
• the stress index
• the rhythmogram
• the scatter plot
• the response to a given breathing pattern

The results are presented graphically. Individual values should not be viewed in isolation as “good” or “bad,” but must be considered in their respective context.

Here's how the VNS analysis is performed in the ROC

Before the test, you will first rest for a few minutes. Then, an elastic chest strap will be placed around your chest. The electrodes on the strap will be lightly moistened to ensure that your heartbeat is recorded reliably.

The test generally consists of two measurement sections:

1. First, a measurement is taken while sitting or lying down and breathing normally.
2. The measurement is then repeated while breathing slowly at a specified rate.

This comparison shows how heart rate variability changes under different measurement conditions.

The actual measurement takes only a few minutes. You should allow a total of about 10 to 15 minutes for the rest period, both measurement phases, and the subsequent evaluation.

When might a VNS analysis be useful?

VNS analysis may be considered as a supplementary test in the following cases:

• prolonged physical or psychological stress
• subjectively limited recovery
• Sleep Problems
• high professional or athletic demands
• Questions About Physical Recovery
• long-standing pain
• Monitoring over time under conditions that are as comparable as possible

Particularly in cases of long-term orthopedic symptoms, factors such as sleep, physical stress, and recovery can play a role in addition to physical findings. VNS analysis can provide an additional perspective in this regard. However, it is not a substitute for an orthopedic examination and is not intended to determine the cause of pain based solely on a single measurement.

What factors influence the result?

Heart rate variability is influenced by numerous factors. These include, among others:

• Age and Physical Fitness
• Breathing and Body Position
• Sleep and Time of Day
• current physical or mental stress
• Sports and Physical Activity
• Caffeine, Nicotine, and Alcohol
• Medications
• acute illnesses
• certain types of arrhythmias

The study therefore provides a snapshot. For follow-up assessments, the measurement conditions should be as comparable as possible.

What can't VNS analysis do?

VNS analysis is a complementary functional test. It cannot be used to diagnose burnout, depression, organ diseases, or cardiovascular diseases on its own. Similarly, the results of this test cannot be used to make reliable predictions about life expectancy or the development of future illnesses. The test is not a substitute for a medical ECG or for cardiological, neurological, or psychotherapeutic diagnosis. If your symptoms require further evaluation, we will discuss with you which appropriate specialist practice you can contact.