Download PDF
Journal of Pediatric Epilepsy 2021; 10(03): 097-103
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1725991
Review Article

The Benefits of Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents with Epilepsy: A Systematic Review

Loyane de Fátima Svierkovski
1   Department of Physical Education, Universidade do Centro-Oeste do Paraná, Guarapuava, Brazil
,
Angelica Miki Stein
1   Department of Physical Education, Universidade do Centro-Oeste do Paraná, Guarapuava, Brazil
2   Human Performance Research Group, Technological Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
,
Timothy Cavazzotto
1   Department of Physical Education, Universidade do Centro-Oeste do Paraná, Guarapuava, Brazil
,
Ana Carolina Paludo
1   Department of Physical Education, Universidade do Centro-Oeste do Paraná, Guarapuava, Brazil
› Author Affiliations
› Further Information
Also available at
   Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

The aim of this study was to review the literature about the effect of physical activity intervention in children and adolescents with epilepsy. Articles were searched in the central electronic databases of MEDLINE, Embase, PsycAriticles, and CINAHL for the following keywords: “epilepsy,” “seizure,” “physical activity,” “physical exercise,” “exercise therapy,” “sport,” using the Boolean operator “AND” and “OR.” The quality of the selected articles was evaluated by the Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale. Out of the 22 articles selected, 18 did not involve intervention or did not have pre- and postresults and therefore were excluded from the study. The remaining four were studies from Canada and Korea which comprised two long-period interventions and were included in the analysis. Both programs demonstrated a positive effect of physical activity on variables related to psychological well-being and cognitive function. All the four articles demonstrated a lower score of quality. In conclusion, reviewed studies suggest that physical exercise program induces some benefits in children and adolescents with epilepsy. However, the noncontrolled trials and the varied analyses (quantitative vs. qualitative) make it difficult to establish a consensus about benefits of physical activity in epilepsy.

Keywords

adolescents - children - epilepsy - exercise - physical activity


Publication History

Received: 15 December 2020

Accepted: 27 January 2021

Article published online:
10 March 2021

© 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

  • References

  • 1 Beghi E, Giussani G, Sander JW. The natural history and prognosis of epilepsy. Epileptic Disord 2015; 17 (03) 243-253
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 2 Trinka E, Höfler J, Zerbs A. Causes of status epilepticus. Epilepsia 2012; 53 (Suppl. 04) 127-138
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 3 Carrizosa-Moog J, Ladino LD, Benjumea-Cuartas V. et al. Epilepsy, physical activity and sports: a narrative review. Can J Neurol Sci 2018; 45 (06) 624-632
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 4 Fernandez-Baca Vaca G, Mayor CL, Losarcos NG, Park JT, Lüders HO. Epileptic seizure semiology in different age groups. Epileptic Disord 2018; 20 (03) 179-188
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 5 Camfield P, Camfield C. Incidence, prevalence and aetiology of seizures and epilepsy in children. Epileptic Disord 2015; 17 (02) 117-123
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 6 Vancampfort D, Ward PB, Stubbs B. Physical fitness levels and moderators in people with epilepsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Epilepsy Behav 2019; 99: 106448
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 7 Dubow JS, Kelly JP. Epilepsy in sports and recreation. Sports Med 2003; 33 (07) 499-516
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 8 Capovilla G, Kaufman KR, Perucca E, Moshe SL, Arida RM. Epilepsy, seizures, physical exercise, and sports: a report from the ILAE Task Force on Sports and Epilepsy. Epilepsia 2016; 57 (01) 6-12
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 9 Pimentel J, Tojal R, Morgado J. Epilepsy and physical exercise. Seizure 2015; 25: 87-94
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 10 Iqbal M, Rahman MS, Zafar S, Chen XL, Liu JX, Liu Y. Systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy of different exercise programs in pilocarpine induced status epilepticus models. Epilepsy Behav 2017; 73: 256-267
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 11 Frucht MM, Quigg M, Schwaner C, Fountain NB. Distribution of seizure precipitants among epilepsy syndromes. Epilepsia 2000; 41 (12) 1534-1539
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 12 Vancini RL, Andrade MDS, Vancini-Campanharo CR, Lira CABD. Exercise and sport do not trigger seizures in children and adolescents with epilepsy in school settings. Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2017; 75 (10) 761
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 13 Liberati A, Altman DG, Tetzlaff J. et al. The PRISMA statement for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses of studies that evaluate health care interventions: explanation and elaboration. PLoS Med 2009; 6 (07) e1000100
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 14 O'Connor D, Green S, Higgins JP. Defining the review question and developing criteria for including studies. In: Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions: Cochrane Book Series. London, UK: Cochrane; 2008: 81-94
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 15 Silverman SR, Schertz LA, Yuen HK, Lowman JD, Bickel CS. Systematic review of the methodological quality and outcome measures utilized in exercise interventions for adults with spinal cord injury. Spinal Cord 2012; 50 (10) 718-727
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 16 Eom S, Lee MK, Park JH. et al. The impact of an exercise therapy on psychosocial health of children with benign epilepsy: a pilot study. Epilepsy Behav 2014; 37: 151-156
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 17 Eom S, Lee MK, Park JH. et al. The impact of a 35-week long-term exercise therapy on psychosocial health of children with benign epilepsy. J Child Neurol 2016; 31 (08) 985-990
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 18 Willis J, Hophing L, Mahlberg N, Ronen GM. Youth with epilepsy: Their insight into participating in enhanced physical activity study. Epilepsy Behav 2018; 89: 63-69
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 19 Brown DMY, Mahlberg N, Pohl D. et al. Can behavioral strategies increase physical activity and influence depressive symptoms and quality of life among children with epilepsy? Results of a randomized controlled trial. Epilepsy Behav 2019; 94: 158-166
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 20 Guthold R, Stevens GA, Riley LM, Bull FC. Global trends in insufficient physical activity among adolescents: a pooled analysis of 298 population-based surveys with 1·6 million participants. Lancet Child Adolesc Health 2020; 4 (01) 23-35
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 21 World Health Organization. Global action plan on physical activity 2018-2030: more active people for a healthier world. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2018. . Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO
    Search in Google Scholar