Flight Exercises

Along with jet lag, most businessmen and vacation travelers suffer from malady that cuts in on their physical alertness once they get off the plane. It might be called “body let down.” Here’s what happens as a result of sitting inactively for periods of time on long, and even short distance, flights. Your back hurts your body gets stiff, your coordination and reaction capacity slows down, the oxygen supply to your organs is reduced, your mental alertness is dulled. Before you blame the infight meal, it would be worthwhile to know that most everyone experiences the same problem. In fact, the American Astronauts did too.

The problem can be overcome by keeping fit while on the flight. Obviously, you can’t jog or do strenuous exercises on an aircraft. And certainly, most people would be too embarrassed to do deep knee bends in the aisle. But you can do tone-building, circulation-promotion exercised while you are sitting. It just takes 10 minutes, here’s what you do:

1. Stand-up and walk the length of the airplane and return just to loosen up.

2. Tighten muscles with about one half of your strength in an isometric series. Work on the legs, thighs, buttocks, chest,stomach, arms, back and shoulders.

3. Move your feet in a circle to loosen your ankles.

4. Lift your legs from the floor to the bottom of the seat in front to you and return without putting your feet on the floor.

5. Do a series of fist clenches. If you have a ball or object handy, squeeze it. Count to five while your muscle is flexed and then relax.

7. Clasp your hands together and place them against your stomach. Tense your stomach muscles. Count to five and relax.

Of course, the recommendations above are just stop gap steps while traveling. In addition to observing diet and structural health procedures, the American Chiropractic Association recommends a regular program of body building for health to be done on a daily basis.

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