Feasibility, Acceptability, and Appropriateness of an 8-Week Supervised Aerobic Exercise Intervention for Adults With Epilepsy: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.
Sydney Churchill, Jeni Lansing, Angelique Brellenthin et al.
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In 30 seconds
This Phase IIb pilot randomized controlled trial assessed the feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness of an 8-week supervised aerobic exercise program for adults with epilepsy aged 18-65 years. Six participants were randomized: four to exercise and two to control. Recruitment was limited, reaching 16.7% of the target sample, but retention and adherence were 100%; all exercise participants completed 24/24 sessions. No seizures occurred during exercise sessions, and participants’ mean ratings of feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness were high (>4 out of 5). The findings support implementation among those who enrolled, while identifying recruitment as the main challenge.
Key findings
- Recruitment reached 16.7% of the target sample (target n=36), with a recruitment rate of 0.75 participants per month.
- Retention and adherence were 100%; all exercise participants completed 24/24 sessions.
- No seizures occurred during exercise sessions, and mean feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness scores were >4 out of 5.
Why it matters
The study provides early evidence that supervised aerobic exercise can be delivered with strong engagement among adults with epilepsy who enroll. It also highlights that recruitment, rather than retention or session adherence, may constrain larger trials. These feasibility findings help distinguish implementation challenges from participant engagement and inform the design of subsequent research.
What to keep in mind
The pilot enrolled only six participants, far below its target sample, limiting the strength and generalizability of its feasibility findings.