Trying to restrain someone who is having a seizure can absolutely cause them to become combative or injure you and them, which is why major medical organizations specifically advise against it.

Quick Scoop: Is That Statement True?

Yes, the idea behind the statement is correct :
Trying to physically hold someone down during a seizure can:

  • Lead to the person thrashing or appearing combative as their muscles contract involuntarily.
  • Cause injuries such as dislocated shoulders, fractures, or muscle strains to the person you’re restraining.
  • Put you at risk of being hit or injured by their uncontrolled movements.

It’s not that the person is intentionally fighting you; their brain is sending powerful, abnormal signals, and their body is moving without conscious control.

Why You Should Not Restrain During a Seizure

Medical and public health sources are very consistent on this point: do not restrain a person having a seizure.

They warn against restraint because:

  • Restraining increases the chance of joint injuries and other trauma, sometimes more than the seizure itself.
  • Fighting against strong, involuntary muscle contractions can tear muscles and damage ligaments.
  • Helpers can be knocked over, kicked, or struck, especially in crowded or chaotic environments.

Instead of trying to stop the seizure, the focus should be on making the environment safe and letting the seizure run its course.

What To Do Instead (Safe First Aid Basics)

Think “protect, not control” when someone is seizing.

  • Gently help them to the ground if they are standing.
  • Move objects away that they could hit (furniture, sharp items, hard edges).
  • Put something soft under their head, like a folded jacket or pillow, if you can do so safely.
  • Turn them onto their side to help keep the airway open once it’s safe to do so.
  • Time the seizure; seizures lasting more than a few minutes are a medical emergency and need 911/EMS.

Just as important, there are key “don’ts” that leading organizations stress:

  • Don’t hold them down or try to stop their movements.
  • Don’t put anything in their mouth (they cannot swallow their tongue; objects can break teeth or block the airway).
  • Don’t give food, drink, or medicine until they are fully awake and alert.

Why People Think Restraint Helps (And Why That’s Outdated)

It’s common in online forums and older advice to see people say things like “hold them still so they don’t hurt themselves.” But emergency medicine and neurology guidance has moved firmly away from that:

  • Training communities and first-aid courses now emphasize crowd control and safety , not pinning the person down.
  • Stories shared in EMS and first-aid forums often involve extra injuries caused because someone tried to “help” by restraining.

A useful way to picture it: trying to hold down a seizure is like wrestling a powerful, uncontrolled reflex—it doesn’t stop the electrical storm in the brain, but it does add more risk on top of it.

Mini Example Scenario

Imagine someone in a mall suddenly collapses and starts convulsing:

  • A bystander grabs their arms and tries to pin them to the floor.
    • The person’s shoulder dislocates as the muscles jerk against the restraint, and the helper’s wrist gets injured.
  • Another bystander instead:
    • Clears space, moves a chair away, gently cushions the head, and turns the person on their side once the movements slow, while timing the event and calling emergency services.

The second approach matches current first-aid recommendations and avoids the “combative” struggle that restraint often creates.

Bottom Line

  • The statement “trying to restrain someone who is having a seizure may cause her/him to become combative” reflects real risks and aligns with modern seizure first-aid guidance.
  • The safer approach is to protect their surroundings, not control their movements , and seek medical help when needed.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.