Compression Socks for Flight Travel: How to Reduce Leg Swelling

Leg and foot swelling commonly occurs during long-haul flight travel. Frequent flyers know that the culprits of their discomfort are immobility and inactivity as there isn’t enough space to walk around on the plane.

Although swelling that doesn’t persist for hours is harmless, no one wants to feel uncomfortable and irritated at the very beginning of their journey. Travelling is expected to be fun! Moreover, there are certain risks associated with excessive swelling, such as deep vein thrombosis. CDC warns that anyone travelling more than 4 hours by air, by car, or by bus can be at risk for blood clots and DVT. And sad to say, DVT can affect anyone at any age and they may have no symptoms at all.

Remember that you should immediately seek emergency medical care if you have swelling in only one leg accompanied by leg pain, skin redness, chest pain, difficulty breathing, and irregular heartbeats. In addition, there are certain factors increasing the risk of developing blood clots. These include pregnancy, recent major surgery, taking birth control pills, or a family history of blood clots.

What is the cause of leg and foot swelling?

As noted above, immobility, involving prolonged sitting or standing, is the main culprit of leg swelling and fatigue. While travelling by plane, you do not usually have an opportunity to extend your legs or have a short walk. Blood collects in your lower extremities and the pressure within veins increases. As a result, your calf muscle fails to send the blood back to your heart, fluid moves into the surrounding tissues, and swelling occurs.

By good luck, there is a way to stop this process and balance comfort and safety when travelling.

A valuable travel tool to combat swelling during long flights

To get rid of swelling and stiffness, it is important to support leg veins and stimulate blood flow. Compression is the right solution to the problem. Many people have reported that wearing compression socks and stockings helped them to prevent, reduce, or combat swelling during travel.

Compression garments come with numerous benefits. A good pair of compression socks can easily cease fluid retention in your lower legs and improve blood circulation. They are also known to prevent blood clot formation, which is a serious concern for many people, especially those with clotting disorders. What’s more, research shows that airline passengers wearing compression socks are less likely to develop DVT.

Therefore, compression socks have become a must-have for a more comfortable and safer air travel experience.

What you need to know before purchasing compression socks

Today on the market there is a huge variety of compression garments coming in different sizes, colours, and style. However, once you’ve decided to purchase a pair of compression socks, make sure that they fit you well. Opt for the best quality to make them last longer. And, most importantly, learn more about compression ratings and their respective uses. Most medical professionals recommend graduated compression for long-haul flights.

It is also a good idea to drink enough water, avoid salty food and alcohol beverages, and wear comfortable loose clothes while travelling by plane.

Follow these simple tips to take your air travel experience to the next level!