Sport, exercise and leisure activities

The England Boxing regulations say you cannot box if you have epilepsy.

Heights could be dangerous for anyone with epilepsy. This does not mean that you shouldn’t go climbing. But you will need to think about your safety and other people’s. There is a small amount of evidence to suggest that climbing fast to a high altitude can increase the risk of someone having a seizure. A lack of sleep, exhaustion and dehydration can also increase the risk of seizures at high altitude.

Speak to your healthcare professional, such as your epilepsy nurse, before you go climbing or bouldering.

Safety precautions for cycling include:

• Wearing a safe and well-fitting helmet
• Wearing high-visibility clothing
• Avoiding cycling on busy roads, rivers or canals if you still have seizures
• Trying to avoid cycling on public roads if you have seizures

Cycling UK have more general advice about cycling and safety.

Cave diving, hang gliding, parachuting, snowboarding and bungee jumping are a few examples of extreme sports. All extreme sports involve risk. It is important to check whether it would be safe to do any of these activities if you are still having seizures. Whichever sport you choose, there is usually a governing body that sets the safety regulations.

The Epilepsy Action Helpline may be able to give more advice about these sports and organisations.

If your seizures are completely controlled, you need to consider the general safety precautions for fishing. If you are still having seizures, never fish alone. Make sure the person with you knows what to do if you have a seizure. Wear a life jacket if there’s any danger of falling into the water. Using a longer line may mean you do not have to sit too near the water’s edge.

If you have epilepsy, you must get a medical certificate from a specialist medical examiner to be able to fly a private plane. To carry passengers you must have been seizure free for 10 years and not taken epilepsy medicines in that time. The Civil Aviation Authority has more information about medical rules for pilot licences.

Horse riding can be safe if your seizures are well controlled. If your seizures are not well controlled and could cause you to fall off the horse, you may still be able to ride. But you would need to be closely supported by someone walking alongside the horse.

Rule 49 of the Highway Code states that children under 14 must wear a helmet if they are riding on the road. Children of the Sikh religion are exempted while they are wearing a turban.

Horse riding hats and helmets are designed to protect your head against injury. So it is a good idea to wear one any time you ride a horse.

There is no reason why you shouldn’t use a jacuzzi if your seizures are completely controlled. If your seizures are not well controlled, you should think about the risks and have someone with you who knows how to help you if you have a seizure.

If you have seizures, it would be best to ask your doctor for advice before practising martial arts. Whatever type of martial art you choose, you should make sure that the people in charge know about your epilepsy and what to do if you have a seizure.

If you go running or jogging, it may help to take extra safety precautions. These could include keeping to well-lit and traffic-free routes. It is best not to run by rivers or canals. Try to stick to a planned route and tell someone your route before you go.

If you are still having seizures, it might be safer to go with someone else and wear a medical ID.

Anyone is at risk of burns if they get ill while in a sauna or steam room. If you’re still having seizures, try to go with someone who would know how to help you if you have a seizure.

Having a seizure under water is an emergency. You and any person that tries to rescue you are at risk of drowning.

The British Sub-Aqua Club recommend that you are free from awake seizures and have not taken epilepsy medicine for five years before you go scuba diving. You will need to make an appeal to the UK Diving Medical Committee (UKDMC) if you only have seizures while asleep. They will decide if you can scuba dive.

Cross-country and downhill skiing can be safe for many people with epilepsy. But you should avoid downhill skiing if you are still having seizures. This is because it would be dangerous if you had a seizure. If you are going cross-country skiing, go with someone who knows what to do if you have a seizure.

The British Parachute Association says you can take part in a tandem skydive (where you are attached to a professional) if:

• You have been seizure free for the last two years, and
• You have not had any changes to your medicine during this time

You will need to ask your doctor to sign a medical certificate. Skydiving on your own (solo) is not safe for people with epilepsy.

The British Skydiving website has more information about medical regulations for tandem sky diving.

If your seizures are completely controlled, you don’t need to take more safety precautions than anyone else. If you are still having seizures, you need to consider some extra safety measures. For example:

• Ask your doctor or epilepsy nurse about how your epilepsy could affect your safety when swimming
• Have someone in the water with you
• Talk to the staff at your local swimming pool about any needs you may have
• Use a life jacket, float, or buoyancy aid
• You may feel more comfortable swimming near the edge of the pool
• If there is a lifeguard or pool supervisor, tell them about your epilepsy
• If there’s no qualified lifeguard, do not swim deeper than the shoulder height of the person swimming with you
• Make sure the person with you knows what to do if you have a seizure in the water and is strong enough to help you
• Practise what to do if you have a seizure, with the person swimming with you. This will boost your confidence and theirs
• Do not swim if you are feeling unwell
• Avoid overcrowded situations, as it might be difficult for others to notice if you have a seizure. You could also wear bright coloured swimwear
• Be careful if you want to swim in open water like the sea, rivers or lakes. Open water swimming is more dangerous than swimming in a pool. This is because there are other risks to think about, such as tides, currents and colder water. There is also less chance of being seen if you get into trouble. Don’t take risks

Your doctor or epilepsy nurse can give you more safety advice.

How to deal with a seizure in the water

Tonic-clonic seizures – basic guidelines:

• From behind, tilt and support the person’s head to keep their face out of the water
• If possible, move the person to shallow water until the seizure is over
• Do not restrain their movements or place anything in their mouth
• Shout for the lifeguard to help you
• Give the person their prescribed emergency medicine, if needed
• Get the person out of the water when the seizure is over

When the person is out of the water:

• Put them into the recovery position
• Keep them warm and stay with them until they have fully recovered

Absence and focal seizures – basic guidelines

Protect the person from danger by guiding them away from deep water or by holding their head above the water. When they recover, check if they need to get out of the water as they may feel confused and need to rest.

Call 999 if:

• The person may have swallowed or breathed in water, even if they appear to be fully recovered
• The seizure has not stopped after 5 minutes
• The person has more than one seizure without recovering in between
• You know it’s the person’s first seizure
• The person is injured, has breathing problems, or needs emergency medical attention for any other reason
• The person’s behaviour after a seizure is unsafe

Epilepsy Action has more information about first aid for seizures. 

There is no evidence to suggest that you should avoid team sports if you follow safety advice for the sport. This may include wearing the right head protection, as recommended by the official sporting body. If your epilepsy was caused by a head injury, get advice from your doctor about whether these types of sport are safe for you.

You might have concerns about safety on rides. As long as there are general safety precautions in place, you do not need to avoid rides. Some attractions may involve flashing lights. You may need to avoid these or take some steps to reduce risk if you have photosensitive epilepsy.

If you have been seizure free for 12 months you should be able to use any piece of gym equipment. If you still have seizures, there may be equipment that you should not use. This is because it would not be safe for you or other people.

Many gyms have their own safety policy. Talk to the staff about your condition and ask for a safety assessment.

There’s no reason why having epilepsy should stop you going hiking or rambling. If you are still having seizures, it’s a good idea to go with someone who knows what to do if you have a seizure.

Walking charity Ramblers has more information about walking with epilepsy. You can also find details about local walking groups in England and Wales.

You can enjoy many water sports with epilepsy if you take the right safety measures. It helps to think about:

• What risks are involved with the activity
• How your epilepsy affects you
• What the risk would be if you have a seizure
• How you could make the activity safer

Sometimes, water sports can be too risky and it may be best to avoid them. For example, it is not safe to scuba dive when you have seizures.

As a general rule, you can make water sports safer by:

• Avoiding doing any water sports on your own
• Making sure the person with you knows about your epilepsy and how to help you if needed
• Wear a life jacket if there’s a danger of falling into the water