Traveling Tips for Feet

Air travel and long road trips to your vacation destination can play havoc on your lower extremities due to stiffening of the muscles and lack of circulation. Inactivity from being packed in like sardines on an airplane with minimal space between you are the person sitting next to you can cause many health problems such as swelling of the feet and blood clots in the legs. We have become accustom to tight quarters when traveling, but you can take a proactive approach to keeping your feet and ankles happy during travel.   

The American Podiatric Medical Association has put together a list of travel tips to keep your feet happy during the sometimes grueling task of getting to and from your destination.

• Get a work out in…. while sitting! Yes, you can work out your feet and ankles while sitting down. All you have to do is rotate your foot about 5 times in the clockwise direction and then in the counterclockwise direction. Flex your toes up and down to work out your calves. Here’s an easy one… wiggle your toes!
• Move your whole body. When fueling up the car, get out and walk around. If traveling on a plane, listen for when the pilot says you can get up and then do so. Walk up and down the aisle a few times. Try to request an aisle seat because you will have more room to stretch out your legs. Guideline: move around at least once an hour.
• Cozy Shoes. Planning on purchasing new shoes for your vacation? You may want to reconsider, especially if they need a breaking in period. Nothing is worse than getting blisters and having sore feet when you are trying to enjoy your vacation. During the travel process, loosen shoelaces, and if you can without endangering others with the smell of feet, take your shoes off. Swelling of feet is a common occurrence during travel and can be minimized by drinking plenty of water and wearing supportive elastic stockings.
• Give your feet a vacation. Pack a spa kit! All you need is lotion, a foot brush, toenail clippers, Epson salts, and warm water.

Photo by Sunshinecity. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/sunshinecity/2168723481/