Exercise as Adjunctive Treatment for Refractory Epilepsy
Refractory Epilepsy, Epilepsy
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Refractory Epilepsy focused on measuring exercise, telehealth, adjunctive treatment
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age 18 or older
- Focal or generalized epilepsy, as clinically determined by a Wake Forest Baptist Health epileptologist.
- Seizure frequency of at least 1 clinically observable seizure in the year prior to enrollment
- Able to ambulate independently without assistive device
- Access to a smartphone with application capabilities
- Internet access or cellular data plan to attend virtual sessions
Exclusion Criteria:
- Diagnosis of nonepileptic or psychogenic spells
- Seizures associated with frequent falls with injury
- <50% adherence with wearing the device or completing the study diary during the baseline period.
- Currently in an exercise program
- Medical conditions that would limit ability to participate in an exercise intervention such as:
- Stage III or IV Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
- End-stage Renal Disease
- Severe dementia or significant cognitive impairment
- Uncontrolled hypertension (HTN)
- Motor conditions that limit ambulation
Sites / Locations
- Wake Forest University Health Sciences
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Active Comparator
Exercise Intervention
Control
Participants in this arm will be enrolled in a telehealth-delivered exercise program with the goal of progressing to 150 min/week (5 days per week, 30 minutes of steady state walking per day). Participants will meet weekly 1:1 with a trained health coach via a Webex platform. Weekly exercise goals will be tailored to the individual's abilities and specific barriers. Coaching will utilize social cognitive theory and self-determination theory to develop self-efficacy for sustainable behavior change.
Participants randomized to the wait-list attention control group will continue to undergo standard care for 12 weeks. They will continue to wear the Garmin activity tracker and can view their activity but will not be given an exercise program. They will be contacted by a study coordinator via telephone every 2 weeks for health education. During this time, they will review resources and healthy lifestyle guidelines for people with epilepsy, including healthy diet, medication compliance, seizure precautions, stress management, and sleep hygiene.