Medically reviewed by Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM — Board-Certified Podiatric Surgeon — Balance Foot & Ankle, Howell & Bloomfield Hills, MI. Last updated April 2026.
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Medically Reviewed by Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM — Board-Certified Podiatrist, Balance Foot & Ankle Specialists, Michigan. Last updated April 2026.
Travel and Your Feet
Travel — whether business or pleasure — creates specific foot health challenges: prolonged immobility in cramped spaces, excessive walking on hard surfaces, unfamiliar footwear choices, and dehydration that affects tissue health. Planning ahead dramatically reduces travel-related foot problems and allows you to enjoy your destination without the distraction of foot pain.
Deep Vein Thrombosis: The Serious Risk
Prolonged immobility during long flights increases deep vein thrombosis (DVT) risk — a blood clot in the deep veins of the leg that can travel to the lungs (pulmonary embolism). Flights over 4 hours carry meaningful DVT risk, particularly for travelers with additional risk factors: prior DVT, clotting disorders, recent surgery, pregnancy, obesity, or estrogen-containing medications. Prevention: stand and walk the aisle every 1-2 hours, perform in-seat calf raises and ankle circles regularly, stay hydrated, and consider compression socks (15-30 mmHg) for all long-haul flights. High-risk travelers should discuss aspirin or prescription anticoagulant prophylaxis with their physician before long flights.
Foot Swelling on Flights
Dependent edema from prolonged sitting is nearly universal on long flights — feet and ankles swell from fluid accumulation. Compression socks (15-20 mmHg) prevent most travel edema. If you don’t wear compression, bring a change of shoes one size larger for the end of a long flight when feet are maximally swollen. Remove shoes during flight to allow foot swelling without constriction — many airline travelers develop foot pain from shoes that were comfortable at departure but become painful as feet swell during flight.
Walking Intensively at Your Destination
Urban tourism involves walking distances that may be 5-10 times a traveler’s normal daily step count — on hard cobblestones, museums, and theme park surfaces that are merciless to unprepared feet. Choose footwear for walking-intensive destinations as carefully as you would athletic footwear: cushioned soles, supportive arch, adequate toe box. Pack custom orthotics or quality insoles that fit into your walking shoes. If you have existing foot conditions like plantar fasciitis, discuss a travel management plan with your podiatrist before extended walking trips.
International Travel Foot Health
Exposure to unfamiliar environments increases foot infection risk: water-transmitted infections from warm-water beaches and pools, fungal infections from communal barefoot areas, and potential for wounds in environments with less stringent sanitation than home. Diabetic travelers require particular vigilance — daily foot inspection, conservative footwear choices, and prompt attention to any skin change. Contact Balance Foot & Ankle at (810) 206-1402 before extended travel if you have chronic foot conditions that may be affected by your specific travel plans.
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Traveling Soon? Protect Your Feet on Long Flights and Trips
Long flights and road trips can cause swollen ankles, blood clots, and flare-ups of existing foot conditions. Dr. Tom Biernacki helps patients prepare for travel with compression recommendations, exercise protocols, and pre-trip foot evaluations.
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Clinical References
- Clarke M, et al. Compression stockings for preventing deep vein thrombosis in airline passengers. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2016;(9):CD004002.
- Mittermayr R, et al. Leg edema formation during long-haul flights. Thrombosis and Haemostasis. 2007;98(5):1042-1046.
- Scurr JH, et al. Frequency and prevention of symptomless deep-vein thrombosis in long-haul flights. The Lancet. 2001;357(9267):1485-1489.
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3980 E Grand River Ave, Suite 140
Howell, MI 48843
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Podiatrist-recommended products
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As an Amazon Associate, Balance Foot & Ankle earns from qualifying purchases. Product recommendations are based on clinical experience; prices and availability shown above update live from Amazon.
When to See a Podiatrist
If foot or ankle pain has been bothering you for more than a few weeks, home care alone may not be enough. Balance Foot & Ankle offers same-week appointments at our Howell and Bloomfield Hills clinics — no referral needed in most cases. Bring your current shoes and a short list of symptoms and we’ll build you a treatment plan in one visit.
Call Balance Foot & Ankle: (810) 206-1402 · Book online · Offices in Howell & Bloomfield Hills
Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM is a double board-certified podiatrist and foot & ankle surgeon at Balance Foot & Ankle Specialists in Southeast Michigan. With over a decade of clinical experience, he specializes in heel pain, bunions, diabetic foot care, sports injuries, and minimally invasive surgery. Dr. Biernacki is a member of the APMA and ACFAS, and his patient education content on MichiganFootDoctors.com and YouTube has reached over one million views.
- Plantar Fasciitis: Diagnosis and Conservative Management (PubMed)
- Plantar Fasciitis (APMA)
- Diagnosis and Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis (PubMed / AAFP)
- Heel Pain (APMA)