Exercise is essential for everyone to keep fit and healthy.
It can raise our mood, keep our heart healthy and help with weight management.
For children especially, taking part in physical activities with other children, making friends and having fun is very important for the development of both their social and movement skills.
Children with spina bifida or hydrocephalus may need reminders about the rules of the games, and to take turns.
Children and adults with shunts may feel anxious about what exercise and sport are safe to participate in, so here is some guidance:
Shunts themselves are not fragile: they are made from silicon, which is strong and flexible. As they are usually positioned at the side of the head, they are difficult to break accidentally through a fall, as the shoulder would break the fall before the shunt hit the ground.
So there are few activities that are ‘off limits’ for people with shunts.
However, people with LP shunts should avoid any activity which involves twisting at the waist, as this can dislodge the shunt.
For a first trip abroad, or if your health means being within easy reach of certain healthcare facilities, there are some extra steps involved in planning travel. First pick the country you want to visit, then search the internet for the hospitals/healthcare services you might need in the region you’ll be travelling to. It will then be easier to pick a destination within a couple of hour’s travel, if you need to.
For example if you need to be close to a neurosurgical centre, then you would search for ‘neurosurgery’ (adding paediatric if you need something for your child) in the destination region.
In Europe, this is a good starting place for finding neurosurgery centres: https://www.eans.org/page/European_Neurosurgical_Centers
Long cruises might be fine if your condition is stable, but can be difficult to get off if you become ill. For that reason, it may be difficult or very expensive to find suitable insurance for cruises.
In developing countries or remote regions access to healthcare might be limited so you’ll need to do your research and plan carefully.
It’s important to remember that healthcare abroad isn’t always free to use at the point of use, like the NHS is, and the availability and quality of the facilities may vary.
Speak to your travel insurers for advice as there may be restrictions on where you can access care. You may also want to contact hospitals/medical facilities in advance to check they would be able to meet your medical and access needs (including language). You could also find out what their charging policy and processes are.
Flying in a regular commercial jet is fine for most people with shunts. If you were told years ago not to fly, it’s worth asking your neurosurgeon again as things have changed. Some people will have been told by their neurosurgeon not to fly, for specific reasons, so do check if this applies to you.
Flying in a small, unpressurised plane may not be wise for people with shunts.
https://www.shinecharity.org.uk/hydrocephalus/hydrocephalus
Read about our family living with Hydrocephalus in my book, Marc’s Garden, published by Olympia Publishers
