According to statistics there are about 8 million people who travel on a daily basis. This is according to International Air Transport Association. This is only airline travel. Traveling is a necessity for work or for leisure. Whatever your reason for travelling is, you cannot do away with travel. One way or another, you will have to go somewhere and this can sometimes take toll on your body especially your feet and legs.
People who travel a lot for work can develop Deep Vein Thrombosis or DVT, heavy legs, swollen feet and ankles, and other leg pains. Long flights and leg pain are almost always go together. If you are traveling on a train cross country or even a bus and a cramped car, the travel experience can even be worse. So, you need to get as comfortable as you can when traveling long hours.
People who have different conditions on their legs need the extra help when they travel. Compression socks or calf sleeves can do the trick. The compression is designed to help promote circulation in the legs. Compression should be around 10-25 mmHG. So, choosing the correct size is essential to maximize the benefit of compression.
Compression socks are recommended for travel for this very reason. When compression socks are used during flights it keeps your legs “unrestless”.
Our legs take a heavy beating when you walk during travels and also when you sit long hours on a flight. 18 hours sitting on a cabin seat puts so much stress on your legs. Imagine yourself on an economy class seat in an airplane for more than half a day. You would certainly be tired in the first few hours alone.
Compression socks will help your legs have proper blood circulation. While movement is constrained during long flights, your compression socks will work make things lighter on your legs. “Economy Class Syndrome” is a common condition many travelers experience especially when traveling long flights.
But it is possible to keep your legs healthy during travel. Here are some ways which can help keep your legs healthy during long travels.
Aside from wearing compression socks, here are more tips as to how you can make your travel easier on your legs and even have a pleasing flight.
1. Take Short Walks Every 2 Hours
If you find yourself cramped in your seat, you can walk the aisles of the plane when the seat belt sign is off. This promotes blood circulation in your legs and feet. If your assigned seat does not have much legroom you should walk every opportunity that you get.
2. Move Your Feet Every Half an Hour
If you can’t move around and can’t stand up every 2 hours, you can stretch your legs and feet a bit by moving them every half an hour.
3. Drink Plenty of Water
Hydrate yourself with water. When you are dehydrated, your legs have more tendency to get cramps. In an aircraft cabin humidity goes down to 20 percent. Our bodies are usually comfortable when the air humidity is between 40-70 percent. Drink water instead of coffee or tea. Drinking plenty of water will oblige you to go to the restroom as well and will force you to walk.
4. Store Bags Overhead For More Leg Room
When you board a plane, store your bags overhead to give your legs more room to move around. This means that if you can be one of the first people to board the plane, you will be the first one as well to have your bags stored properly.
5. An Aisle Seat is Good
In order for you to be able to move around more, an aisle seat is best for you. A window seat can be great but if you really want more leg room, an aisle seat is best. Whenever you need to stand up, move around or stretch your legs, you won’t be able to disturb others if you are in an aisle seat.
6. Massage Your Feet and Legs
If you can, massage your legs downwards, from the area near the knee going down the calf. This will relax the muscles on your legs. Do this for both legs. For the feet, rotate inwards and outwards alternately. Then massage your feet if you can take off your shoes and not stink the cabin.
7. Exercise Your Feet
Exercise your feet by stretching it inwards for about 8 seconds then moving it back to relaxed position. Rotate inwards and outwards as well. Do 8 repetitions per foot.
8. Elevate Your Feet
This might be impossible but if you are traveling with other people, you might have more leg room than you think. Elevate your feet to put less stress on your feet. Blood flow will definitely be better if you are able to elevate your feet for at least 3 minutes.
9. Don’t Cross Your Legs
Crossing your legs constrict the flow of blood. You will become more restless and have heavy legs when legs are crossed.
10. Invest on Comfortable Footwear
Don’t just wear any footwear during travel, a pair of slippers can be great but not comfortable enough. A pair of leather shoes can just be the right footwear for your business trip but it should not be your travel shoes. There are travel shoes which can be bought at your local shoe store.
Additional Tips:
Following these tips might just make your long travel more comfortable and more relaxing. These simple tips with your compression socks or compression calf sleeves might just do the trick in making your trip awesomely relaxing.
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