This unexpected item can help you get through the flight

Planning to travel? Pack a tennis ball in your carry-on, say experts. Health experts say the ball can be rolled gently along muscles to improve circulation and relieve pressure while seated, according to The Metro. They recommend light, targeted pressure up and down the thighs, legs, or shoulders to ease tightness from long periods of sitting.

Registered osteopath and qualified sleep therapist Tracy Hannigan advised pairing the ball with a hand towel to keep it steady and easier to position against sore spots. “A great tip is to find a hand towel, put the ball in the middle of it and roll it like a sausage. When you then apply pressure using the ball, it’s easier to position and will prevent it from skidding out of position, which can be painful,” she said.

“A tennis ball is small and light and can help you to apply soothing pressure to points you might otherwise not be able to reach,” she said. Hannigan added that travellers can create a gentle lower-back stretch by crossing one leg over the other and leaning forward toward the crossed foot, which can loosen the back without leaving the row.

Alongside the tennis ball technique, experts urged steady, regular movement to prevent stiffness. They advised not staying in one position too long and taking brief walks or standing and stretching at intervals. Light, low-impact activity such as swimming, cycling, yoga, or tai chi can help maintain joint mobility in the days around a journey without stressing sensitive areas.

Daily stretches should move muscles through a comfortable range, be held for 20 to 30 seconds, and be repeated two or three times a day.

The guidance underscores a “little and often” approach, saying consistent, gentle activity through the day is more effective for reducing stiffness than one intense session.

Experts also pointed to heat and cold therapy for managing travel-related soreness. Warmth from a hot water bottle, heat-rub creams, or a bath can relax stiff muscles and joints. Keeping warm in cooler weather was highlighted as another way to prevent stiffness from settling in.

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