Air Travel and Health Risks
The dangers of long flights in cramped quarters have been the subject of media attention and have prompted both passengers and airlines to examine the pitfalls of air travel. In response, some airline carriers, such as JetBlue, have begun including passenger seat exercises in the seatback pocket on all flights.
The lack of leg room on most airplanes can cause passengers to experience leg cramping, toe cramping, and general lower-body aching. Lack of movement while on a flight can also cause the feet to swell.
If you end up in a spot where you can’t move around much, try some simple, seated exercises to keep the blood flowing, the joints mobile, and the muscles relaxed while en route.
- Lift your knees up toward the ceiling as if you are marching in place
- Bend and straighten your knees as far as seat room allows
- Move your ankles up and down by lifting your heels up and then pointing your toes up
- Move your ankles in circles
- Gentle stretching of the back and shoulders
Although many of the aches that passengers experience are more uncomfortable than dangerous, there are some potentially serious health risks that can result from sitting for long periods of time on an airplane. Perhaps the most serious risk to those who fly is the development of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), sometimes called “coach class syndrome,” which results when blood clots form in the legs during four or more hours of confinement in a cramped seat. When the plane lands, small clots normally dissolve; however, larger clots may not. They might then break loose days or even weeks later, travel to the heart or lungs, and possibly cause death.
APTA suggests that fliers not stay seated for the duration of the flight and recommends that passengers walk up and down the aisle of the plane every hour or so to work the leg muscles and ease the back–that is, if the captain has turned off the “Fasten Seat Belt” sign!
Doing some of the above movements during the flight can help to prevent fluid build up in the legs, relieve a stiff and/or sore back, and stiff, tight hips when rising to walk after prolonged sitting. Sitting with your feet propped on your carryon luggage can help to relieve strain on the lower back.
Physical therapists also recommend wearing compression stockings to help reduce the risk of DVT. Compression stockings work by applying maximum pressure at the lower-leg area, progressively decreasing in pressure toward the top of the leg. The pressure compresses leg veins, thus helping to prevent clot formation. You can ask your physician about these before your trip.
Another consideration while flying is the dehydration that occurs from the high altitudes at which planes now fly and the dry, pressurized cabin air. These conditions may lead to muscle cramping and aching, so APTA advises passengers to drink plenty of water before and during the flight.
