Sports with epilepsy

Any questions about living with epilepsy should be asked in this sub-forum.

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Epilepsy Action
Posts: 12
Joined: Tue May 06, 2014 3:24 pm
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by Epilepsy Action on Thu May 22, 2014 4:04 pm

Re: Sports with epilepsy

Hi

It’s a good idea to speak to your doctor before trying a new sport or activity, particularly if your seizures are uncontrolled. These are some of the things you might want to discuss with your doctor.

•How often you have seizures.
•What happens when you have a seizure.
•If you have a warning before a seizure.
•How long your seizures usually last.
•If there are things you know trigger your seizures (for example flashing lights, excitement, and disturbed sleep).
•What risk there could be for you and other people if you had a seizure during the activity.
•What support would be available if you needed it.

If your epilepsyis the result of a head injury, then you should avoid contact sports. And if you have epilepsy, boxing is not allowed. Water sports, clmbing and scuba diving are particularly hazardous if you are still having seizures. But you may be able to take part in other sports, as long as you take the right safety precautions.

Kathy

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Anthony Linklater
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Joined: Tue Apr 08, 2014 4:19 pm
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by Anthony Linklater on Thu May 22, 2014 5:38 pm

Re: Sports with epilepsy

It is worth pointing out that it is just as important for people with epilepsy to keep fit and healthy as it is for anyone else so being involved in sport should be a good thing as long as you consider the issues that Kathy has highlighted.

There are some people who notice that they are more likely to have a seizure whilst exercising although this is unusual. If this happens to you, you may be able to moderate your exercise a little to prevent this from happening and it would be worth discussing it further with your neurologist.

As well as helping with fitness, sport can also help you to make friends, particularly if you are considering team sports. This can be important for some people with epilepsy who may have limited social interaction for various reasons.

Good luck with it.

Anthony
Anthony Linklater
Epilepsy Specialist Nurse

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Andrew Kelso
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Joined: Tue May 06, 2014 4:29 pm
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by Andrew Kelso on Thu May 22, 2014 6:03 pm

Re: Sports with epilepsy

I always encourage patients to make their own risk assessment of sports and epilepsy.

There are very few absolutes in this field, and you have to weigh up:
1. The risks to you if you had a seizure when participating
2. The risks to other people, and
3. How much taking part in that activity means to you.

For instance, swimming carries a certain risk if you have epilepsy (e.g. drowning). However, if you have infrequent seizures (e.g. 3-4 per year), you always swim in a pool, you can tell people that are there that you have epilepsy so that they can assist you if necessary, and you love swimming, then you might feel that the benefits to you outweighed the risks.

I also suggest that you tell your gym/sports centre that you have epilepsy - it may affect their insurance arrangements, and its good to be open about these (usually small) risks. They might require a letter from your doctor to support that the risks are small - I frequently provide these for my patients.
Dr Andrew Kelso
Consultant Neurologist at Barts Health NHS Trust

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