Prevent swollen feet with travel compression socks
Many air travellers suffer from swollen feet and/or thick ankles. Your shoes may pinch during a long journey, making your legs restless. When you sit still for a long time, the blood and fluids in your body sink into your legs and ankles. At worst this can cause blood clots, but often it just causes discomfort. Your blood does not flow enough and can clot. When a blood clot obstructs the vein, this is called traveller’s thrombosis. The low pressure in an aeroplane can also prevent the flow of blood in your body. Below, we explain the cause of swollen feet and ankles during your flight and give you tips, such as aeroplane socks and more!
Swollen ankles and/or feet during air travel
Swollen feet and ankles have a simple cause: too little exercise and no airline socks. This is not surprising since you sit in the same position for a long time during a long flight. This has an effect on your blood circulation.
The veins play an important role in the circulatory system. Veins ensure that blood from all parts of the body is returned to the heart. To pump the blood from our legs back up, we usually contract our calf muscles. The calves then make a pumping movement to push the blood upwards. When you sit still for a long time, your blood circulation does not get the support of your body and your heart has to work hard to pump the blood back up. This is why you may experience swollen ankles and feet when flying.
Problems during your flight
Problems can arise when you do not use your calf muscles or use them infrequently and you do not wear aeroplane socks. This happens when you sit or stand for a long time. Due to lack of movement, the blood is not pushed back sufficiently and remains in the lower part of your legs and feet. Hence the swollen ankles and feet.
People at risk
Who suffers more from swollen and thick feet? Overweight people are more likely to have swollen feet and ankles, as the upward thrusting blood has to overcome more gravity. People with a tendency to varicose veins are also at greater risk of swollen feet. If your blood circulation is naturally poor, you are more likely to get swollen feet. People who often travel on long distances are more likely to suffer from swollen feet and ankles.
Aeroplane socks
The right aeroplane socks improve blood circulation in the legs by supporting the veins. Not only people who suffer from heavy or swollen feet in everyday life will benefit from special aeroplane socks with compression. Anyone who has to stand or sit still for a long time can benefit from it. On Enforma Socks you will find several airplane and travel socks with compression. This way, a flight becomes a lot more pleasant!
How to prevent swollen ankles during your flight?
Wear comfortable clothing
When you are going to make a long flight, it is recommended to avoid tight clothes and to wear comfortable clothing. This way your veins won’t be pinched off and your skin will get enough oxygen. Leave your jeans at home and go for loose-fitting jogging trousers with a pair of trainers and aeroplane socks with compression.
Take a walk before you fly
Basically, no matter how long you fly, a good walk before your flight is definitely recommended! This will get your blood flowing properly. By going for a walk, you ensure that your feet and ankles don’t swell up until later.
Do not sit with crossed legs
Crossing your legs can cause some discomfort during a flight. Crossing your legs over each other pinches your veins, which is bad for blood circulation. It also increases the risk of varicose veins.
Get special airline socks
Just like during and after a run or a hike, you can also improve your blood circulation in the plane by wearing aeroplane socks with compression. Enforma Socks has special compression socks that are useful for people who travel a lot by plane, train or car. The socks are mainly made of merino wool and regulate the temperature in your legs. With our aeroplane socks you will reduce the fatigue and pain in your legs.
After the flight
After a long flight, it is advisable to go for a walk and leave your airline socks on for a while. It is also a good idea to limit your salt intake in the days after your flight. This is because salt retains moisture.
Offer of aeroplane socks
In our offer you will find different types of aeroplane socks: from socks with a lot of compression to socks with light compression. But also for extra ankle stabilisation and circulation promotion, our aeroplane socks offer a solution. Not sure what kind of aeroplane socks to choose? Then you can always contact us. We can give you advice about the different types of aeroplane socks.
