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Physical Activity and Excercise with Hemophilia

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Exercising, Staying Healthy and Hemophilia

It is important for people with all types of hemophilia to exercise. When you are physically fit you have enough strength, flexibility and endurance for your daily activities.  Being physically fit helps prevent muscle and joint bleeds!

According to the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, children and adolescents should have 60 minutes or more of physical activity daily.

Exercising helps you maintain a healthy weight and builds self esteem. Engage in simple activities like:

  • Taking the stairs instead of the elevator
  • Parking further from where you want to go 
  • Exercising as a family

These activities are a fun and easy fun way to bring exercise into you day without taking too much time and it should FUN, FREQUENT and FAMILY FEASIBLE!

Barriers to exercising when you have hemophilia may include frequent joint or muscle bleeding. Full recovery from a joint bleed or muscle bleed should take place prior to starting or resuming exercise. Recovery may include the need for physical therapy to increase strength, flexibility and endurance.

Physical Activity, Sports and Hemophilia

For young children with all types of hemophilia, it is very important to let them try a wide range of physical activities and sports so they can find out what they like to do. Children with bleeding disorders may need to avoid certain activities and sports.

Most children with mild hemophilia participate in all kinds of activities. This includes sports like soccer or higher risk sports like surfing and skiing, but those with severe hemophilia may find that these activities lead to serious bleeding. 

Activities such as swimming, golf and hiking may be more suitable, especially if you have target joints or an inhibitor. Children with inhibitors may need a specific exercise program prescribed by the Hemostasis and Thrombosis Center that minimizes or eliminates frequent joint or muscle bleeds. Contact sports, such as football, rugby and ice hockey are not recommended for any type of hemophilia.

Children with bleeding disorders are just as susceptible to repetitive motion injuries, especially in joints that have had previous bleeding. For example, several hours of playing active video gaming can produce injuries to the upper body.

Sports Protection

The best way to protect yourself or your child is to make sure they follow the latest safety guidelines for all children and young adults involved in sports. Children with hemophilia may need additional protective gear to allow safer participation. For example:

  • Helmets for bicycling, rollerblading, skiing and snowboarding
  • Shin guards for soccer
  • Knee pads  and ankle supports for basketball
  • Face mask for batting helmet for baseball

Contact the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Hemostasis and Thrombosis Center to ask them what type of protection a  child should wear when playing their chosen sport or activity.