Participation in Sports Activities in People with Epilepsy

Sports activities are of physiological, social, and psychological importance for people with epilepsy as well as for every other person. However, participation in sports activities is less common in people with epilepsy. Patients usually tend to refrain from participating in sports activities for several reasons such as the risk of injuries, the risk of physical exercise inducing seizures, stigmatization, prejudice, or lack of efficient medical advice. In this review, we specified the sports branches with their possible risks, precautions to be taken and their related advice for people with epilepsy. The sports branches are examined in the headings as martial arts, outdoor sports, collective ground sports, and gymnastics. The possible risk of injury, risk of the particular sports branch to precipitate a seizure, and the necessary precautions in each sports branch are discussed separately. A detailed clinical evaluation is required to make an appropriate decision on whether an individual with epilepsy can practice the mentioned sport. The type of sport, the type and frequency of seizures, presence of aura, seizure triggers, drug compliance, presence of efficient supervision, and presence of protective equipment should be evaluated. In this review, we have evaluated these topics for each sports branch separately. When appropriate precautions are taken in patients with epilepsy, sports will be accepted as a therapeutic entity rather than a ban.