Does flying cause injuries to swell?

Swelling is common during air travel Dependent edema ? the official name for leg and ankle swelling during air travel ? is common and typically harmless. The swelling is a combination of inactivity paired with the force of gravity pulling the fluids in your body toward earth.



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Answer From Sheldon G. Sheps, M.D. Leg and foot swelling during air travel is common and typically harmless. The most likely culprit is inactivity during a flight.

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Swollen ankles are a common side effect of long-haul flights. They most often occur due to the buildup of fluid in the legs, known as edema. Studies show that edema is present in around 97 in 100 people who fly for more than 7 hours. In some other cases, a person's ankles may swell due to DVT.

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If you have a longer flight, joint pain and stiffness could flare up more while you're sitting for long periods of time. If possible, get up and walk around from time to time during your flight to help prevent stiff, sore joints.

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recent heart attack. recent stroke. recent operation or injury where trapped air or gas may be present in the body (e.g. stomach ,bowel, eyes, face, brain) severe long term diseases that affect your breathing.

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There are a few reasons why our bodies might ache after flying. First, we are prone to dehydration when we fly because the air in aeroplanes is very dry. This can cause our muscles and joints to ache. Second, the change in air pressure when we fly can also cause our muscles and joints to ache.

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Post-flight recovery
  1. Elevate your feet. If you're uncomfortable, grab a seat at the arrival gate where you can elevate your feet. ...
  2. Soak your feet or take a bath when you arrive at your accommodations. Just as a hot tub or jacuzzi increases blood flow, a hot bath can have the same effect. ...
  3. Take a walk or exercise.


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“During a flight, cabin humidity is often less than 10 per cent, while our skin typically feels comfortable with 50 per cent humidity,” explains Professor Michael Detman, co-founder and chief scientific office of Iräye, of why we often get puffy on flights.

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However, the pressure in the cabin caused by being at such a high altitude makes any air trapped in your gut expand, which causes you to feel bloated after a flight.

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Sitting down in a tight seat for 13+ hours can sometimes lead to circulation issues, including swelling in the feet. According to The Healthy, the chance of your body forming blood clots increases when blood isn't moving correctly, such as when onboard a long-haul flight.

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Flying produces an inconceivable amount of C02 emissions and air pollution. For those that don't know, CO2 (carbon dioxide) is one of the key greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming – flying produces a whole lot of it.

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“If you've got inflammation blocking your means of equalizing the pressure, that's going to hurt,” he said. That pain can continue even after your flight as inflammation prevents the pressure from equalizing, Adalja added. It can also lead to trouble hearing, vertigo, and in rare cases, damage to the eardrum, Wu said.

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Post-flight recovery
  1. Elevate your feet. If you're uncomfortable, grab a seat at the arrival gate where you can elevate your feet. ...
  2. Soak your feet or take a bath when you arrive at your accommodations. Just as a hot tub or jacuzzi increases blood flow, a hot bath can have the same effect. ...
  3. Take a walk or exercise.


MORE DETAILS