Sports and leisure
Introduction
Having the opportunity to participate in sport and leisure activities is important for everyone, including people with epilepsy. Lack of understanding about epilepsy, and how it affects each person differently, can mean people with epilepsy are cautioned against taking part in some activities where this is not necessary. In fact, with qualified supervision, where appropriate, and the relevant safety precautions, there is little that you should avoid if you have epilepsy. Many people with epilepsy have their seizures completely 
controlled by anti-epileptic medication and do not need to take any greater safety precautions than anyone else.
Research has shown that when a person is active they are less likely to have seizures. So, for some people with epilepsy, sport can be of real benefit. A very small number of people with epilepsy find that exercise increases their likelihood of having seizures. This is usually due to over-exertion. Also, taking up exercise or sporting activities for the first time, or after a long period of inactivity, could affect your body weight and metabolism which in turn could have an effect on your seizure control.
Talking to your doctor
Before taking up a new sport or leisure activity it is a good idea to speak to your doctor first, particularly if your epilepsy is uncontrolled. Things to take into account are the type, severity and frequency of your seizures, known triggers, such as stress and excitement, and whether you have any warning before a seizure. It is also important to consider whether appropriate support is likely to be available for your chosen activity.
Epilepsy Helpline
- UK freephone 0808 800 5050
- International +44 113 210 8850
- Email: helpline@epilepsy.org.uk
- Txt msg: 07797 805 390 info
- Live online: Tuesdays and Thursdays 1230-1330 UK time
Twitter Updates
Epilepsy Action blog
Comments
In the UK, it is considered good practice to get new clients/gym members to fill in a brief self-screening risk assessment. It’s called a ‘Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire’ - or PAR-Q). Among the questions about chest pains, blood pressure and heart disease, there’s a question asking if you get seizures. If you answer ‘yes’ to any of these questions, you need to go to your doctor to discuss the limitations that your condition may place on you, in terms of exercise. You need to get written medical clearance from your doctor before the gym or trainer can let you train - their insurance insists on it.
Well, I have been through this process AGAIN over recent weeks. I was presented with the form, answered ‘yes’ to the question on seizures and was subsequently asked to get a medical clearance letter from my doctor. After 6 weeks of waiting, I was then asked to come and see the doctor in person - which took another week to organise. The doctor agreed that there would be no problem in my using the service (a sports massage) and agreed to write a letter supporting this. They explained that there would be a charge, but didn’t know the exact cost. They suggested that I asked at the Reception Desk - which I did. They didn’t know either. They suggested I tried the Surgery's website.
I checked their website and found that there is a standard 'NHS' charge across the UK for private letters which is as follows: £25 for a single page, £50 for two pages and £120 for longer documents. So, for anybody needing to have a medical clearance letter, to use a gym or a sports club, it will cost them at least £25 - assuming that their condition doesn’t cover more than a single sheet of paper to explain. I want to point out that if you DON’T have epilepsy or the other conditions noted on the PAR-Q form, then these costs wouldn’t apply to you.
Having learned that, I chose to cancel the doctor's letter, as I can't afford £25 for that letter. This means I am not going to use that sports/fitness service.
I am a fully qualified gym instructor and personal trainer. I used to train other instructors - at a place called Loughborough University - as well as running Fitness Services at The University of Birmingham. I have exercised regularly the past 25 years. The barriers that were placed before me have excluded ME from using a health/fitness service - and have prevented me from becoming ‘more active’. The UK’s government are aiming to get more inactive people and more people with long-term conditions/’disabilities’ to perform regular exercise. Do you honestly think that this series of barriers is going to allow that?