Restless Legs on an Airplane

Sitting for long periods of time can be a problem if you have RLS. Traveling by plane is therefore something for some fellow sufferers to dread.

I wrote before about driving with restless legs. Short rides may not be so bad. However, if you’re on the road longer, you’ll probably need a few extra breaks to stretch your legs or go for a walk.

I have not traveled by plane for several years. Of course this has to do with corona. However, traveling in itself is no longer a matter of course for me. Because of my restless legs I am less fit and therefore often prefer to be in my own environment.

Travel by airplane

Fellow sufferers sometimes say that air travel is annoying for them. Your legs can play up and you don’t really have the space to move them as well.

If you sit by the aisle, you may be able to get up an extra time. At the window or in the middle it’s a bit more complicated. You don’t want to be difficult.

Before I got serious problems with restless legs, I traveled a lot internationally. In my twenties I traveled several times for extended periods outside of Europe. In my thirties and forties I often went to Portugal.

When planning those trips, I made sure to sit on the aisle. Then it was easier to take a short walk or go to the toilet regularly. At the time, I didn’t find sitting for long periods of time very pleasant either.

If I want to go to the sun again in the coming years, I would think three times about how I can make that flight somewhat acceptable. I’m not even talking about the stay itself. A shared room in a hostel has also become quite difficult with my nighttime haunting.

Suggestions

Only recently did I read the suggestion to put a nail mat under your feet on the plane. I’ve never tried that. I can imagine it works as a kind of massage. I think a nail mat like this is a good idea. It is also an easier solution than kneading your feet or calves for a long time.

In my blog about acupuncture I already mentioned the nail mat. This is also known as acupressure mat. A nail mat relieves pain and discomfort. Your body produces pleasant, pain-relieving substances by manipulating pressure points. This will make you feel better and more relaxed.

Another option is the Relegs. I also wrote about that before. The Relegs is a device that you stick to your calf with an electrode patch. By tapping it a few times you turn it on and the device will pulse.

At the time, I mainly tested the Relegs in bed. Some times it worked for me better than others. This was partly because it did not always stay in place. It also faltered technically. Perhaps this happened because it is difficult to lie completely still while falling asleep. I think I accidentally bumped into something. That’s when the Relegs ran wild. It didn’t make sleeping any easier.

However, the Relegs seems quite suitable for the aircraft. You sit there quietly and awake. In those circumstances, the chance of bumping into something is a lot less.

If you have the space to stretch your legs under the passenger seat in front of you on the plane, you can do some temporary exercises. For example, from yoga I know an exercise in which you rotate your foot around the ankle joint. A few times in one direction and then a few times in the opposite direction. You may also suffer from restless arms on the plane. You can then do a similar exercise with your hands, over the wrist joint.

I know of some fellow sufferers that when they take their medicines, they take into account when they are on the plane. That is of course also a possibility.