Telecoaching Interventions for People with Epilepsy: Enhancing Physical Activity and Quality of Life through Digital Health. A Systematic Review

People with Epilepsy exhibit low levels of physical activity compared with the general population, despite evidence suggesting potential benefits for seizure control, physical fitness and psychosocial well-being. Persistent barriers such as fear of seizures, limited access to supervised programs, transportation difficulties, and time constraints contribute to sedentary behaviour. Telecoaching (TC), which delivers structured exercise programs through digital technologies, may help overcome these barriers. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the feasibility and potential effects of TC-based training physical activity interventions in individuals with epilepsy, focusing on adherence, QoL, physical fitness and psychological outcomes. A systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus identified 1086 records, of which 7 studies involving 342 participants met the inclusion criteria. Interventions included remotely delivered aerobic, resistance, flexibility, and combined exercise programs. Study quality ranged from "fair" to "good". TC-based interventions were generally safe and feasible, with no major adverse events reported. Evidence suggest potential benefits for physical fitness and psychosocial outcomes, particularly in paediatric populations, although the limited number and heterogeneity of studies preclude definitive conclusions, especially regarding seizure-related outcomes. Future research should focus on standardized TC programs, long-term follow-up, and adequately powered randomized trials to confirm effectiveness and sustainability.

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Publication Details

Journal
Epilepsy & Behavior
Published
2026-02-03
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yebeh.2026.110929
Citations
1
Primary Topic
Epilepsy research and treatment
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
33.12
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article

Telecoaching Interventions for People with Epilepsy: Enhancing Physical Activity and Quality of Life through Digital Health. A Systematic Review

Ignazio Leale, Vincenzo Di Stefano, Salvatore Maria Lima, Giuseppe Battaglia et al.
1 citations
Epilepsy & Behavior
Epilepsy research and treatment
33.12
article

Telecoaching Interventions for People with Epilepsy: Enhancing Physical Activity and Quality of Life through Digital Health. A Systematic Review

Ignazio Leale, Vincenzo Di Stefano, Salvatore Maria Lima, Giuseppe Battaglia, Fabio Tiziano Orlando, Manuel Gómez-López
article en
1 citations

Abstract

People with Epilepsy exhibit low levels of physical activity compared with the general population, despite evidence suggesting potential benefits for seizure control, physical fitness and psychosocial well-being. Persistent barriers such as fear of seizures, limited access to supervised programs, transportation difficulties, and time constraints contribute to sedentary behaviour. Telecoaching (TC), which delivers structured exercise programs through digital technologies, may help overcome these barriers. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the feasibility and potential effects of TC-based training physical activity interventions in individuals with epilepsy, focusing on adherence, QoL, physical fitness and psychological outcomes. A systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus identified 1086 records, of which 7 studies involving 342 participants met the inclusion criteria. Interventions included remotely delivered aerobic, resistance, flexibility, and combined exercise programs. Study quality ranged from "fair" to "good". TC-based interventions were generally safe and feasible, with no major adverse events reported. Evidence suggest potential benefits for physical fitness and psychosocial outcomes, particularly in paediatric populations, although the limited number and heterogeneity of studies preclude definitive conclusions, especially regarding seizure-related outcomes. Future research should focus on standardized TC programs, long-term follow-up, and adequately powered randomized trials to confirm effectiveness and sustainability.

Epilepsy & BehaviorVol. 177
Universidad de Murcia (ES), University of Palermo (IT)
Openalex Percentile: Top 1%
Epilepsy research and treatment
33.12
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