Traveling for long periods of time can be challenging if you suffer from arthritis. Spending many hours seated, navigating through the hustling and bustling airports with heavy bags and odd sleep positions prior to a flight can make your joints stiff and painful before you even board the plane. Here are arthritis-friendly travel tips for long flights!
Plan Before the Flight, Not During It
Waiting for pain is the worst thing to do. The first step to traveling with arthritis is to prepare before you get on your way.
If possible, opt for an aisle seat on the plane to have easy access to emergency exits. It offers more flexibility of motion. If arthritis is affecting your knees, hips or back, reserve an extra amount of legroom on long flights. Plan in advance to decrease travel-related stress, as travelling may exacerbate joint pain.
Before your flight:
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Pack medications in your carry-on
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Keep prescriptions in original packaging
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Bring a small heat wrap or cold pack, if allowed
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Use lightweight luggage with smooth wheels
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Request airport assistance if walking long distances is difficult
Keep Your Joints Moving in the Air
A sitting position can cause stiffness and discomfort especially in the knees, hips, ankles, hands and lower back. Resting for long periods of time while flying can make pain and stiffness worse, and plenty of movement and stretching can help maintain flexibility.
Easy In-Seat Movements
To supplement the above, try these every 30-60 minutes:
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Turn ankles inward in slow rolling motion
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Open and close your hands
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Straighten and bend knees gently
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Raise heels then toes
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Rotate shoulders backwards.
Don't push motion. The duration of the exercise isn't important, it's about the circulation and low level movement.
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Walk When It Is Safe
If the seatbelt sign is not visible, get out of the seat, stand and walk the aisle for a few minutes. Take the time to prevent stiffness in just a few minutes. Otherwise, practice often repositioning and early movement of joints around long journeys as appropriate.
It is important for circulation as well. Prolonged periods of sitting on trips (more than 4 hours) may lead to capillary clots, due to blood pooling in the legs.
Dress for Joint Comfort
Swelling can be exacerbated by tight-fitting clothing. Loose shoe straps, ankle boots, soft layers and waist bands. Compression socks are useful for some travelers on trips but when traveling if you have any circulation problems or other medical conditions, ask your health care provider about them.
Do Not Ignore Pain Signals
It is normal to experience some stiffness from time to time. Do not “push through” any sharp pain or abnormal swelling, chest pain or breathing difficulties. If symptoms seem more severe or unusual, seek medical assistance.
The Bottom Line
Long travel trips with arthritis aren't something you should do toughing up. Arthritis-friendly travel tips for long flights mainly focus on minimizing unnecessary strain. Select a seat, remember to pack wisely, move frequently and save your joints from developing stiffness. Simple, practical steps on the journey, such as these, as small actions can have a big impact when you arrive.
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