title: Evaluation of physical exercise habits in Brazilian patients with epilepsy.
abstract: In this study we present data from a survey that aimed to assess the physical activity of a sample of adult outpatients with epilepsy. One hundred adult outpatients of both sexes with epilepsy answered a survey addressing exercise habits. Fifty-eight males and forty-two females participated in this study. The mean age of onset of seizures was 18.6 years and the mean duration of epilepsy was 16.1 years. Sixty patients had controlled or rare seizures, 8 infrequent seizures, 17 frequent seizures, and 11 very frequent seizures. Eighty-six had partial epilepsy and only 3 had abnormal neurological examinations. Of the total, 51 engaged in physical activity, 85 did not believe that sports precipitate seizures, and 15 were forbidden by their physicians to engage in physical activities. Moreover, 14 were cautioned against participation in sports by their relatives and friends. Eight-four patients had never experienced seizures during physical exercise, 36 believed that physical activity has a positive influence on treatment, and only 1 related injuries associated with seizures. Forty-five are afraid of having seizures during exercise because the seizures might attract the attention of others and they would make fools of themselves. Our data show that although most of our patients do not regularly engage in physical activity, they believe that it might improve medical treatment.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Neurologia e Neurocirurgia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. arida.nexp@epm.br
authors.forename: Ricardo Mario
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Arida
authors.forename: Fulvio Alexandre
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Scorza
authors.forename: Marly
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Albuquerque
authors.forename: Roberta Monterazzo
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Cysneiros
authors.forename: Ricardo Jaco
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.forename: Esper Abrão
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Cavalheiro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D003625:Data Collection; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000523:psychology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006184:Habits; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013177:Sports; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires