Sports and leisure

Sports and leisure

Introduction

Having epilepsy shouldn’t stop you from taking part in most sports and leisure activities. As long as you take proper safety measures, there aren’t many sports you need to avoid. It’s just a matter of knowing the facts and being prepared. Having a friend with you, who knows about your epilepsy and what to do if you have a seizure, is a good idea. As is telling an instructor or supervisor, so they can keep an eye on you and help in an emergency.

Below is a list of activities along with a few notes about taking part in them. It’s always a good idea to know the risks before you start something new. If a sport you are interested in isn’t listed here, contact Epilepsy Action. They’ll be able to help you find out more about it.

Boxing

If you have epilepsy, a history of epilepsy, or take anti-epileptic drugs, regulations in the UK say you are not allowed to box.

Climbing

Heights are a potential danger to anyone with epilepsy. Having a seizure and falling is a very real risk that needs serious respect. This doesn’t mean you can’t go climbing. But it does mean that you need to carefully check the route and consider other people in your group. You may want to consider avoiding this sport unless you have good seizure control.

It’s possible that being at high altitudes (above 3500 metres/11666 feet) can cause fluid retention. For someone with epilepsy, there is a very small risk that fluid retention could trigger seizures.

Extreme sports

Cave diving, hang gliding, parachuting, snowboarding and bungee jumping are just a few examples of extreme sports.

There is usually a governing body that sets the safety regulations for each type of extreme sport. It’s highly likely that the governing body of each extreme sport will advise you not to take part if you have uncontrolled seizures. Contact Epilepsy Action for further information.

Fishing

If your seizures are completely controlled, stick to the general safety precautions that everyone has to follow to fish safely.

If your seizures are uncontrolled, you should never fish alone. Make sure that the person with you knows what to do if you have a seizure. Wearing a life jacket is essential if there’s ever a danger of falling into water.

Gym

If your seizures have been totally controlled for some time, you should be able to use all of the equipment at a gym.

If there is any chance you might have a seizure, you may need to avoid certain pieces of equipment. It’s a good idea to talk to a member of staff about the risks, and to ask for a safety assessment.

Hiking and rambling

There’s no reason why most people with epilepsy shouldn’t be able to go hiking or rambling. If your seizures are not controlled, it’s a good idea to go with someone who knows what to do if you have a seizure.

The Ramblers Association can offer general information for people with epilepsy who want to go rambling or hiking. Contact Epilepsy Action for more details.

Horse riding

Horse riding can be safe if your seizures are well controlled, or if you always get enough warning before a seizure to get off the horse.

If your seizures are not well controlled and could cause you to fall off a horse, you may still be able to ride. But you would need to be closely supervised by someone walking alongside the horse.

Jacuzzis, saunas, steam rooms and hot tubs

There’s no reason why you shouldn’t use these. If your seizures are not well controlled, you shouldn’t use these on your own. Have someone with you who would know what to do if you had a seizure.

Martial arts

If you have seizures, talk to your doctor before taking part in any form of martial arts. If you do get the go ahead, it’s important to tell the people in charge about your epilepsy. Make sure they know what to do if you have a seizure.

Running and jogging

If you go running or jogging, it’s a good idea to stick to well-lit and traffic-free routes.

If your seizures are not controlled, you should really go with someone else. The person with you should have a mobile phone, in case you have a seizure and they need to call for help.

Scuba diving

If you want to go scuba diving, the British Sub-Aqua Club has different recommendations for people who have awake seizures and people who have sleep seizures.

If you have awake seizures, you should:

  • have been seizure-free for at least five years, and
  • have been off medication for at least five years.

If you have asleep seizures, you should:

  • have been seizure-free for at least three years, and
  • have been off medication for at least three years.

Skiing

If your seizures are not well controlled, you should avoid downhill skiing. It could be extremely dangerous if you had a seizure while going at speed downhill.

If you want to go cross-country skiing, avoid remote places. Also, go with another person who knows how to help you if you have a seizure.

If you have uncontrolled seizures, check with your doctor before you take up squash. Squash is particularly strenuous and this kind of activity may trigger seizures in some people.

Swimming

If your seizures are completely controlled, you don’t need to take any greater safety precautions than anyone else. But it is really important not to underestimate the risks of swimming. If you’re still having seizures, or are worried about having a seizure in the water, you need to consider extra safety precautions.

  • Ask your doctor if they think it’s safe for you to swim.
  • Never go swimming alone.
  • Talk to the staff at the swimming pool. If they know about your epilepsy, they can keep an eye on you.

Some points to remember

  • If there’s isn’t a lifeguard, don’t swim deeper than the shoulder height of the person with you.
  • Make sure that the person with you knows what to do if you have a seizure and is strong enough to help you. It’s a good idea to practise what you would do if you were to have a seizure.
  • Don’t swim if you’re not feeling well.
  • Avoid overcrowded situations – it might be difficult for people to notice if you do have a seizure.

Helping someone who is having a seizure in the water

If you are swimming with someone who has a seizure, follow these basic steps to help them.

  • Tilt the person’s head up and out of the water (do this from behind).
  • Try to move the person to shallow water, keeping their head above water.
  • Don’t try to stop their arms or head from moving.
  • Don’t put anything in their mouth.
  • Once the jerking movements have stopped, move them to dry land where they can recover properly.
  • Place them on their side to recover.
  • Stay with them until they feel better.

When to call an ambulance

If you are worried that the person has breathed in or swallowed some water call an ambulance. Or get someone else to call while you stay with the person having the seizure.

Also call for an ambulance if…

  • You know it’s the person’s first seizure.
  • The seizure continues for more than five minutes.
  • One tonic-clonic seizure follows another without the person regaining consciousness between seizures.
  • The person is injured during the seizure.
  • You believe the person needs urgent medical attention.

Team sports (including rugby, football and netball)

If your epilepsy was caused by a head injury, your doctor may advise you to avoid team sports.

If your epilepsy wasn’t caused by a head injury, there’s no real evidence to suggest you should avoid team sports. But it’s important to follow the normal safety measures, such as wearing the head protection recommended by the official sporting body.

Water sports

You can do water sports if your seizures are well controlled. Just make sure you follow the same general safety precautions as everyone else.

If your seizures are uncontrolled, you need to consider some extra safety measures. These include making sure someone with you knows about your epilepsy and how to deal with a seizure. Wearing a life jacket is essential if there’s ever any danger of falling into the water.

If you have uncontrolled seizures and are doing an activity near water, always wear a life jacket and have someone with you.

Yoga

Some people with epilepsy find yoga really helpful, as it helps them to relax. There are different types of yoga available. You should avoid strong pranayama (breathing control) and trataka (gazing at a meditation object) if you have epilepsy. These types of yoga could trigger a seizure.

More information about yoga is available from the British Wheel of Yoga.

Computers and games

Most people with epilepsy use computers and games consoles with no risk of them triggering a seizure. However, it’s a good idea to make sure you take regular breaks, to make sure you don’t get too tired. Getting tired can make some people more likely to have a seizure.

Photosensitive epilepsy

Around three to five in every 100 people with epilepsy have something called photosensitive epilepsy. This means their seizures can be triggered by flashing or flickering lights, or some geometric patterns.

If you’re not sure if you have photosensitive epilepsy, your doctor should be able to tell you.

If you have photosensitive epilepsy, it would be unusual for modern computers to trigger seizures. But it could happen, depending on what you were looking at.

  • Looking at flashing or flickering patterns on a computer screen can increase the risk of a seizure. So can looking at patterns that have both very light and very dark colours next to each other. For example, you might see these patterns if you watch a DVD on your computer.
  • Many software packages, such as Microsoft Office, don’t use flickering patterns or very light and very dark colours next to each other. The packages shouldn’t cause you a problem if you have photosensitive epilepsy.
  • Images on a flat screen monitor are very sharp and bright. Looking at patterns with both very light and very dark colours next to each other increases the risk of seizures. You can lower this risk by reducing the brightness of the screen.

If you want to play a computer game on a television, such as a Wii, here are some tips for reducing the risk of seizures.

  • Make sure the room isn’t too dark – turn on the lights, especially ones near to the TV.
  • Make sure you aren’t too close to the TV – you should be around 2.5m away.
  • If some flashing lights come onto the screen, cover one of your eyes with the palm of your hand. Doing this will mean your brain isn’t being as ‘switched on’ by what you see. This will reduce the risk of having a seizure.