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Can exercise induce seizures?

Sun, 11/16/2008 - 07:00
All the doctors disagree with me because of the research out there but I gave up running last June because I had a seizure while running. I suddenly collapsed, right before I was going to cross a busy street. The doctors argue that aerobic exercise is especially good for epileptics because it normally relieves stress and depression. I agree with this but I want to be safe when getting back into it again. Once I had a small seizure on a bicycle as well. What does everyone else think? Have you had similar experiences?

Comments

Re: Can exercise induce seizures?

Submitted by tcameron on Sun, 2011-11-27 - 17:55

I don't think about my seizures when I excercise and still have them!  I think it's the stress the body experiences while exercising that causes the seizures, especially aerobic exercise.  I'm only a patient who has a lot of seizures during excercise. 

 

I don't think about my seizures when I excercise and still have them!  I think it's the stress the body experiences while exercising that causes the seizures, especially aerobic exercise.  I'm only a patient who has a lot of seizures during excercise. 

 

Re: Can exercise induce seizures?

Submitted by Mathematician on Wed, 2011-09-21 - 20:16

When I had seizures, I lifted weights, jogged, and jumped rope. There was one time (when lifting weights) that I had a seizure and dropped the weights on the floor. When I had a seizure, I would go a week or two without exercising. I no longer have seizures (brain surgery) and I lift only small hand weights. As far as I'm concerned, nobody should lift heavy weights. I've known weight-lifters who had to have a shoulder replacement and who died of an aneurism.

Mike

When I had seizures, I lifted weights, jogged, and jumped rope. There was one time (when lifting weights) that I had a seizure and dropped the weights on the floor. When I had a seizure, I would go a week or two without exercising. I no longer have seizures (brain surgery) and I lift only small hand weights. As far as I'm concerned, nobody should lift heavy weights. I've known weight-lifters who had to have a shoulder replacement and who died of an aneurism.

Mike

Re: Can exercise induce seizures? Try isometrics!

Submitted by tcameron on Fri, 2011-09-23 - 17:38

My seizures are so often, that I need to wear a helmet most of the time, especially at the gym.  I don't have auras, so I'll feel perfectly fine until....30 minutes of post ictal confusion.   I have had a lot of trouble with seizures at the gym.  The aerobic exercises seem to bring seizures on more quickly than weight lifting.  Both have made me fall down and caused several seizures.  I discovered a way to exercise without the danger of seizures or injuries as a result of falls.  ISOMETRIC!  No kidding!  Go ahead, work the same muscle groups you do at the gym, make it difficult with no weights.

Go ahead and lie down on your bed, where you will be safe in case a seizure does occur.  Then pretend to work the biceps, triceps, glutes, abs, etc. the same way as if you were at the gym.  Try to work each rep slowly, exhale on the most difficult part, inhale on the easy part.  Make it difficult!  Pretend the weight is so heavy that your muscles are shaking from having a difficult time completing each rep.  (Of course, it's perfectly safe, since there are no real weights.)  

Go ahead, try your abs, and pull in to the point where it is impossible to pull in further.  Instead of 3 sets of 15, I do 3 sets of 20 because there are no weights.  Make sure you exhale as you pull in, inhale as you (don't totally relax; just stop pulling in) then exhale as you pull in again.  Work upper, middle and lower abs, 3 sets each.  When your muscles are fit enough to do this with no discomfort, add a set for each side as well.  After approx. 1 month, you'll find that crunches are too easy and a waste of time. 

Do your glutes, quads, hamstrings, you name it.  Since I can't get to the gym often, I have found this way to exercise is safer and more effective than before.  Last night, while at the gym, I found that I needed to increase the weights by 10 lbs on almost all the machines.  My workout partner/caregiver was startled last night to see how I was so much more in shape than before.  I've always had Jello- legs and saddle bags until.... I started these isometric exercises.  I don't do the aerobics anymore, but with my blood pressure at 110/70 and my butt a size small, who cares?  I'm burning calories, just by having the muscles there.  Believe me, if you saw my arms, yes, I'm a woman, but I still have great muscle tone.  BTW, I'm 52 years old, 5'6", and used to weigh 138.  Last year I got down to 125 lbs from exercising at the gym.  Now I'm between 121 - 125.  I'm gaining weight because muscle weighs more than fat. 

Go ahead and try the isometrics, they're free, safe and can only help!

 

My seizures are so often, that I need to wear a helmet most of the time, especially at the gym.  I don't have auras, so I'll feel perfectly fine until....30 minutes of post ictal confusion.   I have had a lot of trouble with seizures at the gym.  The aerobic exercises seem to bring seizures on more quickly than weight lifting.  Both have made me fall down and caused several seizures.  I discovered a way to exercise without the danger of seizures or injuries as a result of falls.  ISOMETRIC!  No kidding!  Go ahead, work the same muscle groups you do at the gym, make it difficult with no weights.

Go ahead and lie down on your bed, where you will be safe in case a seizure does occur.  Then pretend to work the biceps, triceps, glutes, abs, etc. the same way as if you were at the gym.  Try to work each rep slowly, exhale on the most difficult part, inhale on the easy part.  Make it difficult!  Pretend the weight is so heavy that your muscles are shaking from having a difficult time completing each rep.  (Of course, it's perfectly safe, since there are no real weights.)  

Go ahead, try your abs, and pull in to the point where it is impossible to pull in further.  Instead of 3 sets of 15, I do 3 sets of 20 because there are no weights.  Make sure you exhale as you pull in, inhale as you (don't totally relax; just stop pulling in) then exhale as you pull in again.  Work upper, middle and lower abs, 3 sets each.  When your muscles are fit enough to do this with no discomfort, add a set for each side as well.  After approx. 1 month, you'll find that crunches are too easy and a waste of time. 

Do your glutes, quads, hamstrings, you name it.  Since I can't get to the gym often, I have found this way to exercise is safer and more effective than before.  Last night, while at the gym, I found that I needed to increase the weights by 10 lbs on almost all the machines.  My workout partner/caregiver was startled last night to see how I was so much more in shape than before.  I've always had Jello- legs and saddle bags until.... I started these isometric exercises.  I don't do the aerobics anymore, but with my blood pressure at 110/70 and my butt a size small, who cares?  I'm burning calories, just by having the muscles there.  Believe me, if you saw my arms, yes, I'm a woman, but I still have great muscle tone.  BTW, I'm 52 years old, 5'6", and used to weigh 138.  Last year I got down to 125 lbs from exercising at the gym.  Now I'm between 121 - 125.  I'm gaining weight because muscle weighs more than fat. 

Go ahead and try the isometrics, they're free, safe and can only help!

 

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