MedicinePlanet: Airline Sleeper Seats, For Comfort and Safety
— -- Lengthy flights can present real challenges and raise serious health concerns for airline passengers with back or circulatory problems. Sitting for long hours in cramped or constricted positions can lead to loss of flexibility and back pain, or to “economy class syndrome” (ECS) — impaired circulation and blood clots in the lower extremities, with potentially severe complications (deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism).
If you are among those who dread or avoid air travel for these reasons, consider upgrading your accommodations next time you fly. Most major airlines now offer “sleeper seats” in first class, and some have them in business or in a combination business/first class as well. These roomy, comfortable, adjustable seats convert into six- to six-and-a-half-foot beds, many of them fully horizontal, allowing the passenger more freedom of movement and lessening the risk of developing blood clots or of aggravating existing back problems. Of course, this increase in comfort and safety comes at an increased price, but if you travel extensively, for business or for pleasure, the greater cost on an extended flight could be money well spent.
Be Good To Your Back
Dr. Gregory Lutz, Physiatrist-in-Chief at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, indicates that any kind of flying contributes to increased pressure in the discs between the bones of the spine. The combination of the prolonged pressure and the constant vibration endured during a lengthy flight (or car trip) increases the risk of disc strain, resulting in pain and discomfort. Lutz says that the best body position for flying is lying flat, as the horizontal posture relieves this pressure.
Lutz offered some tips regarding general back health and safety while flying, regardless of whether or not you already suffer from back issues. “People need to be educated about posture and body mechanics. The muscles around the spine must be strong. It’s imperative that people, especially those at high risk, stay in shape and exercise regularly. It’s a good idea to get up, move around, stretch, and change your position, every 30 to 40 minutes. Inactivity in a sitting, forward-flexed position can lead to back pain. Walking around the cabin, reclining, and elevating your feet can help ease and prevent this pain. You should also be careful when handling heavy luggage. It’s important to lift properly and get help if you need it.”
Airline passengers need the cooperation of the seat itself to be able to follow some of this advice. It must be able not only to recline dramatically — if not fully — but also to elevate and support the traveler’s legs. Robin Benick, also of the Hospital for Special Surgery, is an M.A.P.T. and senior physical therapist with a degree in ergonomics. She states that, “even a perfect position when maintained over a long period of time can lead to soft tissue damage.” This is a particular problem for those people traveling two to three times a month on flights of three hours or more. On these flights, roomier seats are crucial. “The ability to change your position while in flight is key.”
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