Are flight socks still recommended to all long haul passengers and do children need to wear them?

I've seen conflicting reports recently.

Gill

well they are great for keeping your normal socks clean. wouldnt hurt to wear them I suppose but they say a few foot excercises are good as well as a walk around the plane now and then (That would be a walk around the inside of the plane of course)

Hi Gill,

If you have circulatory problems or are at risk, i'e elderly, vascular problem etc then it may help. Main thing is to keep mobile, do leg exercises and drink plenty of fluids, ie water. This is sufficient for most people...

Cheers

Ginny

Why did that make me giggle so much??

Children wont need them. Only pregnant women or women who have recently had a baby, overweight people, people with circulatory problems and heart probs need worry really. The best thing to do is move around and if you cant do that wiggle your feet, toes and do ankle and calf exercises. Really don't worry so much xxxx

I don't think they are something that everyone needs, just people who have particular problems - eg pregnant, varicose veins, etc.

Most people will be fine with the odd ankle wiggle and walkaround!

Not need unless you have any particular risk factors. But saying that I wore mine, looked like a right old granny! On the way back I didn't bother and came out of Heathrow with fat feet
But as already mentioned, drink plenty (not much alcohol, tea or coffee), and move around every couple of hours as well as doing some ankle and foot exercises whilst sitting down.
On our recent Qantas flight they came round frequently with drinks and I always had something plus you can just ask for extra at any time. One thing really cheesed me off, in economy we were given little bottles of water but in business and first they got huge 2 litre ones - why? Do the occupants of cattle class not deserve more water then!!
Sammy

Nope, they haven't paid enough!!

you could also try taking some aspirin before the flight, at suitable intervals during the flight and a few days after as this could help prevent dvt (although again some experts say one thing and others will disagree)

However you obviously shouldnt take it if you have a condition that means you shouldnt e.g gastric ulcer or aged 12 and under for example. If in doubt then check with GP.

Come on Herrchook,we never wore them and were here safe and well,but i did do the foot excersises though!lol.

I'm no doctor, just speaking from personal experience.

Don't have any of the above problems or any circulatory problems. I take an aspirin before we fly. Drink plenty of water on the flight (up until the regulations changed I would always bring bottles of water onto the plan). Walk up and down the aisles, wriggle my toes regularly. And wear those pig-uggly flight socks in sandals (look a total fright). Been on plenty of flights to the US and never had a problem.

When we flew out to Perth to validate our visas I was fine arriving in Perth. But on the return trip, when we arrived back at Heathrow I had enormous feet and ankles. They were so swollen that the skin was uncomfortably stretched!

Well, I thought after a good night's sleep I'd be fine. Wrong! After about a week I was concerned and visited the GP. By then the swelling had gone down a bit and she said not to worry. It took over a fortnight for the swelling to disappear completely.

So, I reckon anybody can end up with swollen feet and ankles. And maybe if I hadn't worn the socks and drank water etc etc it would have been even worse.

Gina

Gill

I wore flight socks going.....not because i was pregnant or overweight but i was worrid about the complications associated with long haul flights. my legs felt great all flight and never ached.

On the way home i didn't wear any and mine and OH legs were aching and swollen.

I would definatly wear them again on long haul flights.

Children do not need to wear them they fidget enough not too

my OH is a fit bloke he flew to Oz without the socks originally and had swollen feet and ankles

next two flights he wore them and no problems

I had a spontaneous PE years ago so will be wearing flight socks and have heparin injections from Doc to take

It's also recommended that women undergoing any hormone therapy/treatment (the pill, HRT etc) use flight socks.

I used them when I went to Cairns last November, jeez they make your legs feel strange when you take them off!

When I went in 2005 my ankles looked like elephants. My skin really stretched and it was uncomfortable.On my return doctor gave me water tablets.
Went again in 2006 and used flight socks on the doctors recommendation, which definately helped.
Flight socks - definately recommended
J x