Impact of Exercise Intervention on Cardiovascular Fitness in Patients with Epilepsy: A Quasi-experimental Study

Abstract

Introduction: Epilepsy is a disorder characterised by two or more recurrent seizures that are unprovoked by any immediately identifiable cause. Additionally, it can lead to psychological issues, including anxiety and depression, as well as societal problems such as increased social stigma and withdrawal. Physical exercise regimens incorporated into the treatment plan can benefit epilepsy patients; however, these are often not included by medical experts or epilepsy patients themselves due to the stigma associated with the condition, apprehension that exercise might trigger seizures, or a lack of knowledge about the benefits of physical activity. Aim: To evaluate the effect of physical exercise on cardiovascular endurance and fitness levels in adults with and without epilepsy. Materials and Methods: A quasi-experimental study consisting of a pre-and post-design with a control group was conducted over a duration of six months. For both groups, participants were given exercise interventions three times a week for six months (from March 2022 to August 2022), with each session lasting 60 minutes. The outcome measures evaluated included the Shuttle Walk Test (SWT) and maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max). For normally distributed data, an unpaired t-test was used to compare data between groups, while repeated measures Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to compare data within the same group. A significance level of p-value ≤0.05 was considered. Results: The mean SWT scores in the control group at baseline, at the end of the 1st month, the 3rd month, and the 6th month were 6.62±1.32 m, 6.94±3.62 m, 7.46±2.69 m, and 8.36±3.16 m, respectively. In the experimental group, the mean SWT scores were 5.96±0.02 m, 6.68±2.24 m, 7.02±1.41 m, and 7.90±2.08 m, respectively. The mean VO2 max values in the experimental group at baseline, at the end of the 1st month, the 3rd month, and the 6th month were 29.76±4.29 m, 30.24±4.01 m, 33.40±2.17 m, and 35.45±3.68 m, respectively. In the control group, the mean VO2 max values were 29.59±5.68 m, 30.09±5.60 m, 31.22±3.48 m, and 33.88±4.26 m, respectively. Conclusion: The study concluded that the physical exercise intervention conducted for adults with and without epilepsy improved cardiovascular fitness and aerobic endurance. Therefore, patients with epilepsy should be encouraged to participate in some form of physical activity.

Keywords

• antiepileptic drugs
• cardiovascular endurance and fitness
• epileptic seizures
• physical exercise
• shuttle walk test