Effect of Acupuncture on Heart Rate Variability in Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis

A double-blinded randomized sham-controlled crossover trial with a 1:1 allocation ratio will be conducted, 40 individuals without previous illness will be evaluated, who will constitute the control group and 40 individuals with MS will constitute the experimental group, paired by age and gender. All participants will undertake active or sham acupuncture sessions. Active-Sham group will start with 5 sessions (1 per week) of active acupuncture combined with HRV evaluation for 20 min. After a 2-week washout, this group will be reallocated to another 5 sessions (1 per week) of sham acupuncture for 20 min combined with HRV evaluation. Meanwhile, Sham-Active group will carry out the opposite protocol, participants will start an allocated 5 sessions (1 per week) of sham acupuncture combined with HRV evaluation, and after a 1-week washout period will be reallocated to 5 sessions (1 per week) of active acupuncture combined with HRV evaluation.