Edited by Katie Barnes. Email:
katiebarnes@leisuremedia.com RESEARCH ROUND-UP
is one of the most common forms of childhood epilepsy. While the outlook is good – it’s easy to treat using anti- epileptic drugs and in most cases it goes away by the time children are 16 – those with BECTS are at increased risk of depression, anxiety and low self-esteem. Although many studies have reported
Beating BECTS I
t’s estimated that one in 4,800– 14,000 children suffer from benign epilepsy with centro- temporal spikes (BECTS), which
the benefi cial impact of exercise on seizure control in animals and adults, the effectiveness of exercise therapy on the psychosocial health of children with benign epilepsy has not been fully explored. That’s why a team of scientists at Yonsei University College of Medicine in Seoul decided to focus on the subject. Their fi ndings were published in medical journal Epilepsy and Behavior* in July.
Exercise intervention The small-scale pilot study was based on four boys and six girls aged 8 to 12 years who all had BECTS. All of the children took part in a fi ve-week exercise programme designed by the Yonsei team. There were two fi tness sessions a week which lasted around three hours and consisted of two different 90-minute activities such playing basketball, football, table tennis or badminton, or skipping or line dancing. Children were also encouraged to do 15–20 minutes of home-based exercises such as sit-ups. The frequency of seizures and EEG
scans were recorded both before and after the programme. Neurocognitive and psychological elements including attention span, executive function, depression, anxiety, behavioural problems and quality of life were also measured.
Cognitive improvements As no clinical symptoms got worse during the intervention, it was first
A small study has found that exercise therapy is useful in treating BECTS – the most common form of childhood epilepsy
Neurocognitive functions improved when the children with BECTS were prescribed exercise
suggested that physical activity is believed to be a safe, feasible way of treating epilepsy. The study also noted improvements in neurocognitive tests and psychosocial factors. Despite the risk of cognitive,
behavioural and attention impairment that comes with BECTS, the children in the study showed average levels of neurocognitive functions. Importantly, however, a number of these functions signifi cantly improved following the exercise therapy, including sustained attention and psychomotor speed and aspects of executive function. In addition, better ratings for
behavioural and social problems, as
well as mood-related wellbeing, were reported after the exercise programme. Although the scientists also noted a
slight trend towards improvement of negative mood, body complaints and general health, the differences were not big enough to be considered signifi cant. “A fi ve-week structured exercise
programme was successfully implemented, with preliminary data suggesting benefi cial impact on neurocognitive and psychobehavioural function,” the study concluded. “Exercise therapy should be further evaluated as part of a comprehensive treatment programme for children with benign epilepsy.”
*Eom S & Kim HD et al. The Impact of Exercise Therapy on Psychosocial Health of Children with Benign Epilepsy: a Pilot Study. Epilepsy & Behavior, Vol 37, July, 2014 46 Read Health Club Management online at
healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital September 2014 © Cybertrek 2014
PHOTO:
WWW.SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/ROBERT KNESCHKE
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132