Why do my legs feel heavy after flying?

This is known as the heavy leg phenomenon. “Everyone, men and women, can suffer from this,” says Anne Cali. “It's due to circulatory problems and therefore to water retention.”



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On a plane, as you mainly sit and don't walk around enough, water accumulates in the tissues of our body, particularly in your lower limbs (ankles and calves).

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Take a walk or exercise. A surefire way to increase blood flow is to take a walk or hit the gym. Not only could you recover more quickly, but you'll also burn calories before you indulge in a few extra treats on the road.

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The effect should only last for a short time, and dissipates shortly after you walk off the plane. It's easy to alleviate or avoid foot and ankle swelling during a flight, too.

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If your leg is swollen and you raise it higher than your heart, the force of gravity will be moving the fluid in your leg towards your heart. The more the swelling and the longer there has been swelling, the longer and more frequently your need to elevate your legs. Start with 20 minutes twice a day.

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A flight leg in the air industry is a flight from one airport to another under the same flight number, with the same aircraft, and no stops in between.

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The following are the most common symptoms of DVT that occur in the affected part of the body (usually the leg or arm): Swelling of your leg or arm. Pain or tenderness that you can't explain. Skin that is warm to the touch.

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Anything out of the ordinary within a week or two after a long flight—leg pain, achiness, heaviness in your leg, swelling—could be a blood clot.

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People commonly experience musculoskeletal pain with plane travel such as back pain, jaw pain, neck pain, foot and ankle pain. But common doesn't mean it needs to be necessary! In fact the list continues with bloating and jet lag being other common complaints post flight.

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The most likely culprit is inactivity during a flight. Sitting with your feet on the floor for a long period causes blood to pool in your leg veins. The position of your legs when you are seated also increases pressure in your leg veins.

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Prevent Blood Clots During Travel
  1. Stand up or walk occasionally. ...
  2. Exercise your calf muscles and stretch your legs while you're sitting. ...
  3. Talk to your doctor about wearing compression stockings or taking medicine before departure if you have additional risk factors for blood clots.


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And he says his patients often ask whether it's safe to cross their legs on a long flight. So, what advice does he give them? If you're comfortable crossing your legs, shift from one to the other every now and again, he says.

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Right after your flight, you're bound to feel stiff, particularly through your quads, hips, shoulders, and chest. Walk briskly to get your blood pumping again, then cycle through the same stretches you performed pre-flight to loosen up all those shortened muscles.

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