Hemophilia Daily

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Tuesday, July 13 (PDF)

Excerpt:

Weighing risks and benefits helps patients choose the right sport

Do children with hemophilia need to participate in sports? What are the limits? What are the benefits? During a Monday morning concurrent session, physiotherapists and physicians discussed some of the pros and cons of sports activities for children with bleeding disorders.

While participation in sports can help build physical strength, improve musculoskeletal structure, and increase self-esteem and a sense of belonging, deciding to engage in sports can be difficult for children with bleeding disorders and their families, who must weigh the risks and benefits carefully.

Sports can be classified in three categories, said Andrés Thomas, a physiotherapist at the Fundación para la Hemofilia, Argentina: those that can be safely recommended, those whose relative risks and benefits must be assessed for each individual, and those—like boxing, rugby, or American football—whose risks outweigh the benefits, even for people without hemophilia. Thomas said families should consult with professionals while their children are young to find the sport that best fits their circumstances.

Physiotherapist Nichan Zourikian of Montreal’s Sainte-Justine Hospital, Canada, said the recommendations are not the same for every patient. “Hemophilia is a chronic condition, and expectations are different in each age group,” he said. Younger children need to make friends; adolescents have other interests; and adults may need the cardiovascular benefits of sports.

Dr. Sylvia von Mackensen, a medical psychologist at the Institute of Medical Psychology of the University Medical Centre in Hamburg, Germany, showed the results of three studies assessing the impact of sports in children’s quality of life. The children’s own perceptions their physical activity significantly affected their health quality of life (HQL) indexes, she said.

Martial de Haro, an expert scuba diver and hemophilia patient from France, said, “One should know and respect his own limits, stick to treatment, and overcome fears.”

Last Updated July 2010