Physical Activity and Exercise in Patients with Epilepsy: a Single-Centre Uncontrolled Retrospective Cohort Study

INTRODUCTION. For a long time, persons with epilepsy have been told to stay away from physical activity and sports to prevent seizure triggers. However, in recent years, evidence has accumulated to the contrary, suggesting that sports may help with preventing seizures. AIM. To examine the level of physical activity and sports among patients of the Russian Epileptology Center. MATERIALS AND METHODS. We conducted a study on physical activity in patients with childhood epilSepsy and in patients currently suffering from epilepsy in 2018–2019 at Polenov Neurosurgical Institute. They answered 3 blocks of questions: first block — physical activity and sporting activity during the school years, second block — current assessment of motor activity, third block — effect of physical activity on the course of the disease (triggering/reduction of seizure frequency. RESULTS. Fifty patients with a verified diagnosis of epilepsy were enrolled in the study. According to study findings, 30 % of patients with childhood-onset epilepsy were not allowed to participate in physical activity when they were in school, and the majority of them were forced to give up their sports after developing epilepsy. It was also found that when the seizures were controlled, the children tried to match their peers in terms of physical activity and participated in classes despite being exempted from physical education and some continued to play sports. The results showed that in 70 % of the cases physical activity did not have negative effect on the course of the disease and in 26 % of the cases the patients reported a positive effect of regular physical activity on the course of the disease. CONCLUSION. Therefore, patients continued to exercise despite severe limitations in the compensated course of the disease, as physical activity with the right type and level of sport has a positive effect on the somatic and psychological state of patients with epilepsy and physical activity is chosen.