Many individuals enjoy traveling because they can explore new places and familiarize themselves with various cultures. It’s also a fantastic way to create memorable experiences. Sometimes, special memories aren’t the only things that you can take with you after a trip, though. You may also end up bringing home backaches, stiff legs, and neck pains, especially after a long flight.
You can experience travel-related body pains for many different reasons. Before you even board the plane, you can get stressed from waiting in a long line or exerting a lot of effort to catch your connecting flight. These stressors can tighten your muscles and can cause a lot of pain, which is the last thing you need as you haul your luggage in search of the right gate. During the flight, you’re also exposed to various factors that can cause body aches, such as dry cabin air and prolonged periods of sitting. These and many other factors can contribute to stiffened muscles in your back, shoulder, and neck.
If you enjoy traveling but want to reduce the physical pains that often come with it, here are some suggestions you can do before and during your flight.
Wear Compression Socks
Sitting for a long while can cause blood to settle in your leg veins due to poor circulation, causing swelling in your feet and legs. While these are common and typically harmless conditions, they can lead to leg discomfort or painful cramps. In more extreme cases, reduced circulation can put you at risk for blood clots. To ensure this doesn’t happen to you, wear compression socks before boarding your flight.
Compression socks are garments that encourage circulation in your feet and calves. They gently squeeze the lower parts of your leg to stimulate the blood flow back to the heart. Depending on the effect you want, you can get compressions socks in various lengths. For example, men’s compression crew socks cover the feet and reach up to the mid-calf section. If you want to encourage blood circulation in your calves, you can also opt for a pair that goes over the calf.
Stay Hydrated
The air circulating inside the airplane cabin has low humidity levels, which can be dehydrating. When you’re dehydrated, your joints won’t get enough lubrication, and this makes you more prone to experiencing body aches.
Given this, make sure to stay hydrated throughout the flight by drinking lots of water. You can pack an empty water bottle in your carry-on bag and refill it once you’ve gone through security. This way, you won’t have to keep asking the flight attendant for a glass of water every single time you feel thirsty.
Additionally, refrain from consuming any alcohol or caffeine before and during your flight. These beverages can keep your muscle tissues from staying hydrated, which can contribute to the pains you feel after your flight.
Do Some In-Seat Stretches
Inactivity during a long flight is one of the main causes of body aches. The best way to avoid these pains is by standing and moving each time you get the chance. Doing so will promote blood circulation in your lower legs and prevent your ankles from swelling.
That said, you may not always have the opportunity to get up and stretch your muscles. The good news is that you can do some stretches right in your seat. You can even finish a basic leg stretching routine while you’re waiting for the “fasten seatbelt” light to turn off.
Begin with both feet flat on the floor. Then, lift the right foot and extend the knee. Stretch your right leg forward as far as the available legroom allows you to. While your leg is extended, flex your foot and point it forward. Then, rotate your ankle clockwise and counterclockwise several times. Return your right leg to the starting position and repeat the process with the left leg.
To activate your gluteus muscle, start by sitting in an upright position. Put one heel across the opposite knee and push down on the bent knee with your hands. This will help stretch your glute, which can reduce tightness in your hips and back.
Bring a Travel Pillow
Many travelers experience a lot of neck pain during or after their flights. This is often caused by bending the neck down for a long period, such as when reading a book or accessing a mobile device. At times, the culprit can also be one’s sleeping position. Unless their seats can be transformed into a bed like business class seats, travelers tend to fall asleep while sitting upright. If this happens, the neck may assume an unnatural position, which can lead to muscle strain.
To ensure you don’t get a stiff neck during your flight, bring a good-quality travel pillow. Most travel pillows have a U-shaped design to properly support the neck and head. Use the pillow to keep your head and neck in a comfortable position while you’re sleeping in your chair.
Traveling is a fantastic way to discover far-off places. To fully enjoy your trip, make sure you arrive at your destination in the best possible physical condition. Take note of the factors that commonly cause body pains during a flight, which include prolonged inactivity, low humidity, and poor sleeping positions, and follow these recommendations to keep body aches at bay.
