Flying and Your Feet

The changing pressures and long periods of time spent sitting in a cramped airplane seat can be a recipe for disaster for those prone to edema, or swollen feet. Due to the limited amount of movement, there is reduced circulation and blood flow, which keeps fluids near your lower extremities and causing feet and ankles to swell. If you had your shoes off, it’s possible that the feet can swell so much that you can’t fit them back into them. The swelling can also cause numbness, unsteadiness, and even pain.

The following are some tips to prevent edema during long flights:

• Try to choose an aisle seat when booking, or ask for an aisle seat when checking in so that you can freely get up and have a bit more room to move.
• Get up and stand whenever possible. Stretch your legs and walk around the aisles (when the seatbelt sign is off). You can try to use open space near the front or back of the plane to stretch and move, especially on long distance flights.
• Try some seated exercises: Make circles with your feet at your ankles; bring one knee up, then the other; flex and point your feet. This movement can help increase circulation in your feet and legs.
• Do not cross your legs when seated as this can cut off blood flow and circulation.
• Wear compression socks to prevent swelling in the first place.
• Wear loose fitting clothes to prevent constricted areas on your ankles, legs, hips, and waist.
• Hydrate and don’t eat too many salty foods (like the pretzels they give you). Dehydration can increase swelling in your feet.

If you have children with you, it is important that you give them a chance to move around as well. While most people do not experience severe edema during flights, some can feel it to the extreme. It is very important to keep the feet and ankles moving as much as possible to relieve swelling whenever you have long periods of sitting – airplane or not.

Those who are pregnant, have diabetes, or prone to blood clots need to be more careful about moving and hydrating during flights since they are at higher risk of edema. If you have further questions, make an appointment today at Alamitos-Seal Beach Podiatry Group. One of our board-certified podiatrists, Dr. Douglas H. Richie, Dr. Jeremy L. Cook, Dr. Faye E. Izadi will be happy to give you more information and perform a checkup for your feet at either of our Seal Beach, CA and Los Alamitos, CA offices in Orange County.