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In what activities can children who are taking anti-clotting medications participate, and what precautions should be taken?

Parents should talk to their child’s doctor about specific activity limits and precautions while their child is on an anti-clotting medication regimen. In general, children who are taking anti-clotting medications should:

Always wear seat belts in motor vehicles
Always wear helmets on bikes, skateboards, scooters, etc.
Avoid activities that are high-risk for injury, especially head injury
Avoid high-impact sports like American football, ice hockey, etc.

Parents should discuss with the doctor whether their child with recent DVT/PE or who is taking anti-clotting medications needs other activity limits. Things to consider include the child’s:

Age, development and degree of judgment
History of injuries and falls
Skill with a particular activity
Degree of supervision (supervision of activities by a responsible adult may decrease the risks of injury and bleeding)

Because staying active, rather than sedentary, helps to reduce the risk of new DVT/PE, doctors often advise parents to permit and encourage participation in regular but safe exercise. While every child is unique, activities that are age-appropriate, supervised, and low-risk for injury may be encouraged, such as walking on a well-paved path or a treadmill, and biking on a well-paved path while wearing a helmet, or riding a stationary bike.

Neil A. Goldenberg, MD, PhD

Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine,
Baltimore, MD, USA

Founding Director, Pediatric Thrombosis & Stroke Programs
Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital
St. Petersburg, FL, USA

Updated: September 2024