The Vagus Nerve: Assessment, Therapy Techniques, and Clinical Applications

5 Hours CE/CPD | Online Course with John Wilks

Enhancing Rehabilitative Therapies with Vagus Nerve Stimulation is a practical online course exploring the anatomy, physiology, and therapeutic relevance of the vagus nerve for rehabilitation and manual therapy professionals.

Enhancing Rehabilitative Therapies with Vagus Nerve Stimulation combines clear theoretical instruction with step-by-step demonstrations presented by author and manual therapist John Wilks.

The course is designed to help practitioners better understand the vagus nerve, its role in health and wellbeing, and how manual therapy approaches may be thoughtfully integrated into rehabilitative practice.

Course Overview

Across this 5-hour CE/CPD course, John Wilks introduces the anatomy, physiology, and functions of the vagus nerve through engaging video tutorials and practical demonstrations.

Participants will explore how vagus nerve stimulation may relate to overall health, wellbeing, nervous system regulation, and rehabilitative care, while developing a clearer understanding of how these concepts can be applied responsibly within professional practice.

The course includes 2 hours of video classes and a fully illustrated 140-page course text, providing both practical guidance and in-depth educational support for therapists seeking to expand their understanding of vagus nerve-focused approaches.

What You Will Learn

Topic Focus Vagus Nerve Anatomy Understanding the structure, pathways, and clinical relevance of this important cranial nerve Physiology and Function Exploring the role of the vagus nerve in nervous system regulation, health, and wellbeing Manual Therapy Applications Step-by-step approaches for applying vagus nerve-focused techniques within professional practice Rehabilitative Integration How vagus nerve concepts may be incorporated into broader therapeutic and rehabilitative care Clinical Confidence and Safety Developing thoughtful, responsible, and scope-aware approaches to treatment planning

Course Content

The course combines anatomy education, physiological explanation, practical demonstrations, and supporting text-based learning to help practitioners understand the vagus nerve and its relevance to rehabilitative therapy.

Module Focus Introduction to the Vagus Nerve Foundational anatomy, physiology, and therapeutic context Functions of the Vagus Nerve Nervous system regulation, health, wellbeing, and autonomic influence Vagus Nerve Stimulation Concepts Understanding stimulation principles and their therapeutic relevance Manual Therapy Techniques Step-by-step demonstrations and practical application guidance Integration into Rehabilitative Practice Applying concepts responsibly within manual therapy, rehabilitation, and client care

Who This Course Is For

This course is suitable for rehabilitation professionals, massage therapists, manual therapists, physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, chiropractors, occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, athletic trainers, exercise professionals, fitness professionals, and other qualified practitioners interested in nervous system-informed therapeutic approaches.

It is especially relevant for professionals who want to better understand the vagus nerve and explore how vagus nerve stimulation concepts may support rehabilitative therapy, manual therapy, stress regulation, and whole-person care.

About John Wilks

John Wilks is an author, educator, and experienced manual therapist with a long-standing interest in subtle therapeutic approaches, nervous system regulation, and integrative bodywork.

His teaching is clear, thoughtful, and grounded in practical application, helping practitioners connect anatomical and physiological concepts with safe, respectful, and clinically relevant therapeutic techniques.

Included With This Course

Included Details Video Classes 2 hours of video tutorials and step-by-step demonstrations presented by John Wilks Illustrated Course Text Fully illustrated 140-page course text with in-depth insights and practical guidance Online Exam Assessment included for course completion Certificate 5 Hours CE/CPD after successful completion Lifetime Access Study at your own pace and revisit the material anytime Subtitles English, French, German, and Spanish subtitles included

CE Finder

This course has been approved for continuing education by numerous professional boards and associations worldwide. Scroll sideways to find your board or association.

Course: The Vagus Nerve
Approvals Listed: 64
CE Broker Provider: #20-1224152 Scroll right to view all approvals in alphabetical order → Alabama Board of Massage Therapy Approved Hours
5 Alabama State Board of Occupational Therapy *General* Approved Hours
5 Alaska Board of Massage Therapists Approved Hours
5 Arizona Board of Athletic Training Approved Hours
5 Arizona Board of Occupational Therapy *General* Approved Hours
5 Arizona State Board of Massage Therapy Approved Hours
5 Arkansas Board of Massage Approved Hours
5 Association of Massage Therapists (AMT) Approved Hours
5 Australian Traditional Medicine Society Approved Hours
5 Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer (BOC) Approved Hours
5 Canadian Athletic Trainers Association (CATA) Approved Hours
2 Canadian Massage & Manual Osteopathic Therapists Association (CMMOTA) Approved Hours
4 Certified Registered Massage Therapist Assc (CRMTA) Approved Hours
5 - Secondary CEU/CPD Self-Cert Approved Hours
5 Chiropractic Board of Australia Approved Hours
5 College of Complementary Health Professionals of British Columbia (CCHPBC) Approved Hours
5 College of Massage Therapists of New Brunswick (CMTNB) Approved Hours
5 College of Massage Therapists of Newfoundland and Labrador (CMTNL) Approved Hours
2.5 College of Massage Therapists Ontario (CMTO) Approved Hours
5 College of Naturopathic Physicians of British Columbia (CNPBC) Approved Hours
5 Connecticut Board of Chiropractors Approved Hours
5 Connecticut Board of Massage Therapy Approved Hours
5 Deleware Board of Massage and Bodywork Approved Hours
5 Distrcit of Columbia Board of Massage Therapy Approved Hours
5 Florida Board of Athletic Training Approved Hours
5 Florida Board of Massage Therapy Approved Hours
5 (Hands On credits) Georgia Board of Massage Therapy *General* Approved Hours
5 Georgia Board of Nursing *General* Approved Hours
5 Georgia State Board of Occupational Therapy *General* Approved Hours
5 Indiana Board of Massage Therapy Approved Hours
5 Iowa Board of Chiropractic Approved Hours
5 Iowa Board of Massage Therapists Approved Hours
5 Kansas Chiropractic Association Approved Hours
5 Maine Board of Massage Therapy Approved Hours
5 Maryland Board of Massage Therapy Examiners Approved Hours
5 Massage Therapists' Association of Nova Scotia (MTANS) Approved Hours
5 Massage Therapy Assc of Manitoba (MTAM) Approved Hours
5 Massage Therapy Assc of Saskatchewan (MTAS) Approved Hours
5 Missouri Board of Therapeutic Massage Approved Hours
5 Missouri State Board of Chiropractic Examiners Approved Hours
5 Montana Board of Massage Therapy Approved Hours
5 National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) Approved Hours
5 National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB) Approved Hours
5 National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork - New York (NCBTMB-NY) Approved Hours
5 Natural Health Practitioners of Canada (NHPC) Approved Hours
5 Nebraska Massage Licensure Board Approved Hours
5 Nevada Board of Massage Therapists Approved Hours
5 New Hampshire Advisory Board of Massage Therapists Approved Hours
5 New Jersey Board of Massage & Bodywork Therapy Approved Hours
5 North Carolina Board of Massage & Bodywork Therapy Approved Hours
5 North Dakota Board of Massage Therapy Approved Hours
5 Ohio Chiropractic Board Approved Hours
5 Oklahoma Board of Massage Therapy Approved Hours
5 Oregon Board of Chiropractic Examiners Approved Hours
5 Oregon Board of Massage Therapists Approved Hours
5 Pennsylvania State Board of Massage Therapy Approved Hours
5 Prince Edward Island Massage Therapy Association (PEIMTA) Approved Hours
5 Registered Massage Therapists' Association of Ontario (RMTAO) Approved Hours
5 South Carolina Massage/Bodywork Panel Approved Hours
5 South Dakota Board of Massage Therapy Approved Hours
5 Tennessee Board of Massage Licensure Approved Hours
5 Virginia Department of Health Professions (Massage Therapy) Approved Hours
5 Washington Board of Massage Approved Hours
5 West Virginia Massage Licensure Board Approved Hours
5

Approval requirements can change. Please confirm acceptance with your own board, association, employer, or regulatory authority before registration.

The Vagus Nerve (Assessment, Therapy Techniques, and Clinical Applications)

Professional Reviews & Feedback

The reviews below represent feedback provided by students and practitioners through Trustpilot, Google Reviews, and Judge.me.

★★★★★ 4.8 average rating across reviews collected via Trustpilot, Google Reviews, and Judge.me

“An outstanding course. The vagus nerve is often discussed but rarely explained this clearly or practically.”

Deborah K., LMT

“The anatomy and physiology sections were excellent. I now have a much better understanding of autonomic nervous system function.”

Glen P., PT

“John Wilks presents complex concepts in a calm and accessible way. The course exceeded my expectations.”

Cynthia M., RMT

“A thoughtful course that helped me better understand the connection between stress, regulation, and rehabilitation.”

Trevor D., DC

“The accompanying book is an excellent resource. I have already referred back to it several times.”

Louise H., Massage Therapist

“This course gave me a new perspective on how manual therapy may influence the nervous system and client wellbeing.”

Ian S., Manual Therapist

“The explanations around vagal pathways and physiological regulation were detailed without becoming overly technical.”

Michelle R., LMT

“A valuable continuing education course for anyone interested in the intersection of rehabilitation and neurophysiology.”

Carl W., OT

“I appreciated the balanced approach. The course remained practical while still exploring the underlying science.”

Monica J., RMT

“The material helped me better understand why some clients respond differently to similar treatment approaches.”

Neil C., Sports Therapist

“The discussion of autonomic balance and recovery was especially useful when working with stressed and fatigued clients.”

Patricia G., Massage Therapist

“The course was professional, well structured, and highly relevant to modern rehabilitation practice.”

Evan T., ATC

“One of the most interesting courses I have completed in recent years. It expanded how I think about treatment outcomes.”

Sharon V., LMT

“Excellent presentation quality and an impressive depth of content. The information was both practical and thought provoking.”

Brandon A., PT, DPT

“The course connected anatomy, physiology, and clinical application in a way that was easy to understand.”

Teresa N., RMT

“I found the sections on stress response and nervous system regulation particularly valuable.”

Darren F., DC

“A highly engaging course. The concepts have influenced both how I assess clients and how I explain treatment.”

Lorraine B., Manual Therapist

“The vagus nerve is often oversimplified. This course provided a much more nuanced and clinically useful understanding.”

Wayne E., PTA

“The material was detailed, balanced, and presented responsibly. A refreshing approach to a popular topic.”

Janice L., Massage Therapist

“I appreciated the emphasis on evidence, physiology, and realistic clinical application.”

Colleen U., Sports Therapist

“The course improved my understanding of nervous system influences on pain, recovery, and rehabilitation.”

Gerald M., PT

“Very well presented. The content was intellectually interesting while remaining highly relevant to practice.”

Melanie Q., LMT

“The workbook and video content complemented each other perfectly. I learned a great deal from both.”

Harvey Y., Manual Therapist

“A worthwhile course for therapists wanting a deeper understanding of how physiology influences treatment responses.”

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