Resistance exercise was safe in an animal model of seizures induced by PTZ kindling

One of the biggest challenges for people and families of patients who live with epilepsy is the stigma generated in several aspects of their lives. Performing physical activity is among the most discussed situations currently, since there are still many concerns about its effectiveness and especially about its safety. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of resistance exercise protocol, combined or not with anti-inflammatory drug administration, on parameters of severity, latency, and occurrence of epileptic seizures, pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the nervous central system, and oxidative stress parameters in the same tissue in an animal model of epileptic seizures. The animals were divided into four groups: the sedentary group (SED) that did not perform any physical exercise protocol; the diazepam group (DZP) that serves as a positive control group; the group that performs resistance exercise and receives prednisolone (RP); and the group that performs resistance exercise but receives only saline (RS). The resistance protocol consisted of climbing a ladder apparatus, daily, with weight attached to the animal tail. Protective effects were found only in the diazepam group, with no crisis-inhibiting effect due to physical exercises. There was no effect on any of the groups in stress oxidative parameters, and there were only a few modifications in cytokines. On the other hand, the practice offered no risks, since there was no worsening of the epileptogenic condition.