We are all familiar with the pain of long flights with almost no leg space. You spend hours in a cramped coach, unable to move around freely. Once flight lands, you face real suffering with swollen ankles that are twice the normal size. Even walking to the baggage claim is arduous. This is more severe for frequent flyers who often end up with sour muscles, joint pains, and swollen feet.
For us, travelling is supposed to be a rewarding experience but it mostly ends up taking a toll on muscles and blood circulation. Hence, we recommend compression socks, your true saviour. This basic travel accessory is quite common among marathon runners, and our grandmothers have been using it for years. And now, it has become a popular companion for long flights to avoid post-flight swelling. These comfortable pairs of socks improve blood circulation while reducing the risk of swelling, clotting, or deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
Although compression socks make you feel at ease during long flights and we would suggest you order a pair for yourself instantly, it is important to understand how they work. So, here is all that you need to know.
Why Does Flying Hurt My Legs and Feet?
Wondering why sitting for a prolonged time in a flight causes your feet to swell? Well, it’s gravity. For every minute that you are stuck on an aeroplane seat, your body is fighting gravity. While walking or stretching, our body puts in a lot of energy and effort to pump blood from the bottom of our feet to the heart and lungs. That is why we become restless after sitting in the same position for a while and are tempted to move around a bit.
Similarly, during air travel, our body is restricted to move in normal ways and eventually, it makes blood pool in our feet. Hence, the swelling and discomfort. Moreover, as blood pools, the body finds it hard to break down blood clots. Thereby, increasing the chances of clots and Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT).
Travel compression socks keep such health risks at bay and make your journey smoother and at ease.
Benefits of Wearing Compression Socks While Flying
When your body is immobile during long flights, blood circulation is not happening efficiently. It may sound crazy that a pair of socks can fight the gravity pull and make it easier to pump blood from your legs to your heart, but it’s true. Made with stretchy material, travel compression socks gently hug your legs, which makes it hard for blood to pool. The socks apply pressure on veins, muscles, tissues, and arteries to improve blood circulation and move it up the veins to your heart. Thus, serving as an effective substitute for free motion during long-haul times.
With blood not pooling anymore, your body maintains healthy circulation. Thereby, mitigating the risk of blood clots, reducing discomfort, and even dealing with fatigue that you feel after tedious trips. In a nutshell, we can say that compression socks and long flights are the match made in heaven, with the former being an inexpensive, safe, and simple travel essential.
How and When to Put Them On
Before wearing compression socks on long-haul flights, you may want to try them on a few times. They should fit perfectly against your skin, not too tight or falling off. Avoid pulling them higher than they meant to or rolling them as it can create extra pressure. If they feel painful or tight, get the size changed immediately as it can cause more harm than any good.
Getting socks on in the confined space of an aeroplane can be a tough row to hoe. Therefore, I would suggest putting them on just before boarding the flight while waiting at the gate.
Compression Socks Are Best Recommended For
Generally, doctors recommend compression socks to travellers with:
- A history of blood clots
- Chronic venous insufficiency
- Recent history of surgery for varicose veins
Although many people started wearing these socks due to medical reasons, you don’t need any prescription to buy them. It’s an effective travel accessory that has now become a necessity to make your flight journeys comfortable and pleasant.
Author Bio:
Rory Donnelly – Rory is the R&D Director and passionate entrepreneur, fascinated by the workings of the human body and natural solutions for common health problems. He’s single-minded in his aim to make Copper Defence a brand that’s recognized across the globe, by partnering with global brands to make these high-tech materials easily accessible for everyone. If you’d like to get in touch, email Rory at Rory@copperclothing.com or visit copperclothing.com for copper-infused clothing, pet accessories and more.
