With my upcoming trip to Europe, I know I will spend countless hours sitting on the dreaded plane in a confined space. Although short in stature there never seems enough room to properly move/stretch. Last time I flew I noticed my legs became more swollen and tight although not a DVT- it made me wonder what I could do to prevent this and DVT from occurring?
So today I want to talk about DVT and prevention.
What is DVT?
Deep vein thrombosis is the medical term for a blood clot. These are blood clots that form in the deep veins mainly caused by sitting in confined spaces for a long period of time. Usually, they dissolve however can sometimes pose a threat to your health when a part may break off and travel to your lungs causing a pulmonary embolism.
Who is most at risk?
Flying increases the threat of DVT by 3 times
Previous history of DVT
Other medical conditions- cancer, stroke, thrombophilia, heart disease
Recent surgery in the pelvis or legs
Pregnancy
Obesity
HRT
Signs and symptoms
Swelling of your leg or arm
Pain or tenderness that you can’t explain
Skin that is warm to the touch
Redness of the skin
How do I prevent it?
Exercises + stretching
Walking down the aisle
Wear loose and comfortable clothing
Drink plenty of water (read my last blog for more benefits of drinking water- https://www.mountlawleyphysioandpod.com.au/water-is-just-coffee-that-hasnt-reached-its-own-potential/
Avoiding alcohol and sleeping tablets
Wear compression socks/ stockings (class 1 stockings are recommended) – talk to your local Pharmacist for more info
Simple exercises to complete while flying
Foot pumps- pretend you are taking your foot on and off the accelerator of a or you are tapping your feet to your favourite tune
Foot circles- rotate the feet clockwise and then change to counter clockwise
Leg lifts- extend the lower leg (careful not to kick the chair in front of you)
Knee tucks- bring the knee towards the chest or march on the spot
Complete 20 reps of each of these exercises every couple of hours through your flight and go for a walk down the aisle every few hours (when the seatbelt sign is off).
Thanks for reading, if you want more info on remaining healthy while flying come visit our physios at Mount Lawley Physiotherapy and Podiatry.
Bon Voyage – see you soon Perth!
Sal
https://www.finavia.fi/en/newsroom/2017/easy-flight-exercises-prevent-deep-vein-thrombosis
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/prevent-dvt-when-you-travel/
