If so, this might make it less problematic to coax a teenager in for blood testing. Another of the chief concern for maintaining chronic anticoagulation in a teenager involves contact sports or other vigorous activities. Contact sports such as as football, rugby, gymnastics and downhill skiing are very popular in the adolescent age groups. Peer pressure and social rewards are often motivations for a teenager to participate in these activities. However, contact sports are more hazardous to the patient on anticoagulant medications.
Head trauma can induce bleeding inside of the skull, with potential serious consequences.
Consider directing your child to sports with less physical contact, such as golfing, tennis, cycling, swimming, etc. There are many other choices that are less dangerous and still very personally rewarding. Even in non-contact sports spontaneous muscle bleeding can occur during periods of vigorous exercise. Most of these hemorrhages will resolve without treatment. Hemorrhage into joint spaces, such as the knee and hip joint can lead to acute, painfull joint swelling.