Physical workouts while you fly offered by airlines

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 25 Jul 2004 - 13:00 PDT


A company belonging to Delta Airlines called Song will start offering a work out program to its passenger for $8 per person per flight. You get an elastic band, a squeezable ball and a manual which tells you how to do an in-flight work out. The manual was created by Dave Barton, a fitness expert.

Another airline, Jet Blue, has been offering Pilates sessions while you fly (Pilates is a type of Yoga).

Whether or not these workouts increase your general physical well being remains to be seen. However, experts say that these physical activity sessions will help long haul passengers protect themselves from developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT), or 'economy class syndrome'.

Deep vein thrombosis is a blood clot in a vein - you can get a heart attack or stroke from it.

The longer you stay still during your flight the higher your risk is of developing DVT, say health exerts. The more you move your body about the less the risk becomes.

NASA advises long haul passengers to walk around every hour, keep drinking plenty of water (stay hydrated), raise your feet up on your toes to exercise your calf muscles and try not to cross your legs.

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