Why do my legs feel weird after a flight?

Why are my legs aching after a flight? Sitting for long periods, cramping your legs, or not moving them all contribute to poor circulation, enabling blood and fluid to accumulate in your legs, causing swollen ankles. The end consequence is, at best, discomfort, oedema, stiffness, and, most likely, varicose veins.



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Leg and foot swelling during air travel is common and typically harmless. 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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After your long flight, it's time for a long soak in an Epsom salt bath. Epsom salt bath is great for relaxing tired muscles and reducing soreness after a long flight. All you need to do is dissolve a cup of Epsom salts into the lukewarm water and soak for a minimum of 20 minutes.

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Blood clots can sometimes form in your legs during air travel because you are immobile for long periods of time, often sitting in cramped spaces with little leg room. The clinical term for this type of blood clot is deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The longer the flight, the more at risk you are for developing a clot.

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DVT or PE may manifest during or shortly after the flight, but often not for several weeks. Prevention includes choosing aisle seating, maintaining hydration, walking frequently, wearing loose clothing, exercising the lower extremities, using a foot rest, and avoiding alcohol and sleeping pills.

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If your feet and ankles swell during a flight but the swelling subsides shortly afterward, it's not a serious concern. But if the swelling continues for hours after the flight and if the leg is red or warm to the touch or you have symptoms in only one leg, you need to seek medical care.

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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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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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Just as water doesn't flow easily through a kinked-up garden hose, blood can't flow as well through a vein that has a kink. On top of that, changes in air pressure inside the airplane cabin cut down the amount of oxygen you breathe in. Low oxygen in your blood can also make blood clots more likely to form.

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Disembarkment syndrome is a medical condition that may occur following a sustained motion event like an aircraft flight or cruise. It is a neurological condition that is normally diagnosed by a neurologist when the sufferer reports a persistent swaying, rocking, or bobbing sensation.

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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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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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