Flight Socks: Preventing Blood Clots During Air Travel | myDr

Anyone who plans on flying, or who frequently travels by air, should be aware of Deep Vein Thrombosis (blood clots) that can form in the legs. Wearing flight socks (elastic stockings that compress the calf muscles and improve the flow of blood in the deep veins) can help prevent DVT.

DVT Risk Factors

• The myDr website reports that risk factors for DVT include obesity, pregnancy, cardio-respiratory or cardiovascular disease, varicose veins and a family history of DVT. The national lymphedema network also cites poor lymphatic circulation and edema (swelling) as factors. Airplanes offer little leg room between rows of seats, and the seats themselves can be constrictive, especially in smaller planes.

Prevention/Solution

• The World Health Organization says that, "Wearing properly fitted graduated compression stockings helps prevent DVT" while Flight Health reports that flight socks are recognised by a number of health experts as a step towards reducing DVT. Before and during a flight, passengers should drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol and tight fitting clothes and wear flight socks.

In Flight Exercises

• In addition to wearing flight socks, passengers can do simple exercises while flying to increase blood flow to and from the legs. Exercises cited by myDr include foot circles, heel/toe lifts, knee curls and raises, neck rolls and shoulder rolls.