How to Keep Your Feet Safe on Your Holiday Flight

It’s the most wonderful time of the year... until you are sprinting through Terminal B trying to catch a connecting flight while hauling thirty pounds of gifts. Indeed, holiday travel can stress your lower body, between the long security lines, the cramped economy seats, and the hours spent standing. That’s why we at PodiatryCare, PC, and the Heel Pain Center have a gift for you: this blog, full of podiatry pointers to keep your feet celebration ready.

Footwear and Flying

First, let’s talk about the shoe strategy. The temptation to wear flip-flops, ballet flats, or flimsy slip-ons for the sake of breezy TSA security is strong. But walking miles through an airport on hard terrazzo floors with zero arch support is a one-way ticket to a plantar fasciitis flare-up before the vacation even starts.

Instead, wear supportive sneakers or comfortable walking shoes that lace up. It might take an extra thirty seconds to tie them after security, but the stability they provide for the long trek to the gate is worth it.

Plus, wearing your bulkiest shoes saves room in your suitcase!

Blood Clots and Travel

Then there is the issue of the cankle. Sitting in an airplane (much like a cramped car seat) for hours wreaks havoc on circulation. Gravity pulls blood and fluid down to the feet, which can lead to uncomfortable swelling and increase the risk of a dangerous blood clot known as Deep Vein Thrombosis.

The best defense is a pair of compression socks. These gently squeeze the legs to force blood back up toward the heart, keeping swelling down and energy levels up.

 Also, don’t sit like a statue. Perform seated ankle pumps every thirty minutes to keep the calf muscle pump active and the blood moving.

Toe Trauma and Luggage

Watch out for the luggage, too. It sounds silly, but dropping a fifty-pound carry-on onto a foot is a surprisingly common holiday injury that we’ve seen result in foot fractures.

Be mindful when pulling heavy bags off the carousel or out of the overhead bin. Furthermore, wearing shoes with a solid, closed toe offers a layer of armor against rogue suitcases and swinging duffel bags that open-toed shoes just can't provide.

Hydration Against Foot Cramps

Finally, drink water. Air travel is incredibly dehydrating, and dehydration is a primary trigger for painful foot and leg cramps.

So ditch the soda or the pre-flight cocktail and stick to water to keep the foot muscles hydrated and happy.

By prioritizing support and circulation, the focus can stay on the family and the food, rather than the foot pain. Safe travels!

At PodiatryCare, PC, and the Heel Pain Center, we care for a wide variety of foot and ankle ailments. Dr. Charlotte George, Dr. Matthew Tschudy, Dr. Rebecca Wiesner, Dr. Kristen Winters, Dr. Laura Vander Poel, and the rest of our team are ready to serve our Hartford County patients. To schedule an appointment at our Enfield location, call (860) 741-3041; for an appointment at our South Windsor location, call (860) 644-6525.