Out of all the fitness tools and gadgets available to address pain, circulation issues, and tight muscles, there’s a simple one that you may be overlooking: tennis balls. Furthermore, they might just help prevent blood clots on long trips.
You sit on a plane for hours without any leg room, your neck and back start to stiffen, and your blood flow starts to decrease. Conventional wisdom suggests you get up and walk about during the flight to help circulation, but that’s not always feasible. However, a tennis ball massage always is.
Performing a self-massage improves blood circulation to targeted parts of the body. It also helps to reduce pain and tension in the muscles. To add to this, tennis balls are small enough to carry onto a plane and using one during a flight won’t take up much space at all.
In addition to working your legs while seated, you can also work your hands, arms, and back. Below are 5 tennis ball exercises that you can adapt to your needs while on a long flight.
1. Ankles
Give your ankles a good stretch. Place the tennis ball under your foot and flex your ankle as you roll the ball back and forth. Hold each position for a few seconds, and then switch to your other foot. You should be able to do this with your shoes on. If the person sitting beside you doesn’t mind, you can also slip your shoes off for this one.
2. Wrists
It’s easy for circulation to be poor in your hands and fingers too. So, to get the blood flowing again, you can grip a tennis ball with light pressure while bending your wrists inwards and outwards.
3. Thighs
Massaging your thighs with a tennis ball will improve your circulation while you’re sitting down. Roll the ball vertically from the knee upwards to the top of your thigh. Repeat this motion on your entire thigh, applying gentle pressure.
4. Legs and Calves
Following the same technique as thigh rolls, roll the ball upwards from your ankle to the knee, and on your calf. Repeat on your other leg. Apply gentle pressure and pay special attention to any areas of tension.
5. Upper Back and Shoulders
Simply roll the ball across your shoulders, upper back, and neck. Run it over any knots or painful points. You can also wedge a tennis ball between your back and the seat, being careful not to hunch over.
N.B. These 5 techniques can be used by passengers and drivers on long road trips. Drivers can pull over and take a fifteen-minute break to carry out these exercises. If your back and/or shoulders start to ache while driving, position one or two balls between your back and the seat, and rock back and forth gently.
Try These Poses to Ease Your Back Ache When Sleeping...
Anyone who suffers from back pain knows how difficult sleep can become, but with these 4 poses, you'll be well on your way to a deep good night's sleep.
8 Exercises To Take OFF Your Fitness Routine
Fitness experts strongly advise to skip these unnecessary exercises to avoid injuries and save time
Here’s Why You Should STOP Doing These Exercises
Physical trainers explain why doing some common exercises might actually be harmful to you.
Your Lungs Will Be In Great Shape With These Exercises
Want to increase lung capacity? Use this wonderfully effective technique.
3 Exercises That Will Help You When Running to the Store
3 lower body exercises that will keep you independent.
Going Gray? Add These 7 Foods to Your Shopping List!
Adds these foods to your weekly shopping list to prevent your hair from turning gray.
10 Cleaning Hacks to Render Your Home Spotless & Germ Free
With both spring cleaning and the need of disinfection in mind, we present to you 10 clever, but a tad unexpected cleaning hacks
18 Reasons Why You Should Always Keep Epsom Salt at Home
People often add Epsom salt to their baths. However, it has many other uses and health benefits - here are 18 of them!
Vodka Has Many More Uses Than You Ever Imagined!
Vodka is not just for use when you need a drink. Here are 16 uses for the Russian beverage that you've undoubtedly never thought of.
9 Ways to Keep Your House Clean Using Just a Simple Lime
Limes are just as good as lemons when it comes to cleaning. Here are 9 great ways to clean with them.
Loop, Knot, Drape: Fall Scarf Tying 101
This lovely woman demonstrates the better versions of how to wear a scarf, what not to do and how to easily make beautiful fashion choices.
Increase Your Home's Value with These Genius Tricks
Thinking of selling your home? Here's how to increase it's value.
Christmas Tree Hacks: 9 Game-Changing Tips
Use these Christmas tree tips to make your holiday festivities easier.
How to Build a Heron's Fountain That Runs Forever
Make your home a soothing sanctuary with this DIY non-stop water fountain.
16 Human Foods You Can Share With Your Dog or Cat
In this article, we will present you with 8 foods for dogs and 8 foods for cats.
These Simple Tricks Can Help Improve Your Memory
Suffering from memory loss can be extremely frustrating. Therefore, here are some tips to help you stop forgetting the daily things you need to remember.
Be Warned! This Battery Could Be a Danger to Your Home
If you use 9V batteries, you need to be aware of this vital information.
Discover: Who Are the Most Successful Inventors in History?
If you love inventions and history, you'll find this post fascinating!
How to Make Sure No Spider Enters Your Home
Tired of 8 legged monstrosities roaming your house? It's time to put a stop to it, the natural way.
Professional Chefs Swear by These Clever Cooking Hacks
We can all probably agree that one cannot possibly know too many cooking hacks, as these clever little hints always help us save precious time!
These Innocuous Car Items Conceal Surprising Dangers
If you're a car owner, this video will be really helpful to you.
5 Home Remedies to Banish Mosquitoes From Your Life
Yo won't need to spend another cent on mosquito repellents once you have become acquainted with these natural ones!
20 Great Kitchen Tips That'll Save You On Money and Effort!
Make your kitchen that much more efficient and less time consuming with these 20 great tips that might change your kitchen experience forever.
Here Are the Safety Precautions You Need to Take This Xmas
Christmas can be ruined by not paying enough attention to safety, but this guide will bring your attention to all the things you need to be aware of.
10 Surprising Grocery Products You Didn't Know You Can DIY
Did you know you could also DIY products like butter, mustard, and deodorants? Learn these useful recipes to reduce the load of your grocery shopping!
10 Essential Sewing Tips You Cannot Do Without
Whether you are experienced at sewing, or a complete novice, here are 15 simple sewing tricks you won't be able to live without.
These 27 Household Hacks Will Make Housework a Breeze
Doing housework can be such a drag sometimes, but these 27 household hacks are here to help!
7 Mistakes We Generally Make While Arranging Furniture
Here's a look at some furniture arranging mistakes you should always avoid and how you can fix them.
7 Common Sofa Arranging Mistakes & How to Avoid Them
Make sure you don’t make these common sofa arranging mistakes in your living room.
10 Quick and Easy Solutions to 10 Common Cleaning Problems
We have searched high and low to bring you ten easy solutions that solve a number of everyday household cleaning issues. You are sure to find these useful!
Vintage Beauty and Self-Care Tips We Should All Be Using
Here we feature 14 really effective, but often forgotten vintage beauty. Best of all, nearly all of these tips use items you have at home
Stunning! The Evolution of Beauty From 1952 to Today
Our definition of beauty may change as years go by but these pictures prove that true beauty is timeless.
6 Ways to Make Your Hands Look and Feel Younger
Give your hands a little TLC with these helpful remedies.
This is One Useful Oil You Always Want to Keep Around
This article will share six different and particularly effective uses for sesame oil, which make it clear why every home should have this essential ingredient.
LIFE HACKS: 30 Practical Uses for Olive Oil!
3o things you can use olive oil for other than cooking with it.
DIY: Make Your Own Chemical Free Gel Air Freshener
Gel air fresheners smell wonderful, but they're often filled with chemicals. Make your own chemical-free air freshener with this DIY.
Travel Through Time: History's Best & Worst Makeup Moments
Makeup tastes and trends have changed dramatically over the years, and this great video proves it...
We Bet You Didn't Know Bleach Had This Many Different Uses
Bleach is often used to whiten fabrics, disinfect toilets, and clean tiles. However, as you're about to see, bleach has many other alternative uses.
11 Great Ways to Use Plastic Hooks Around the House
11 ways to use plastic hooks to find creative solutions to household problems.
What Does Your Handwriting Say About You?
These graphology tips will help you figure out what your handwriting says about you.
Who Knew Bananas Could Have SO Many Uses?
Appearantly, bananas can be used in many more ways than we all thought. Check out these 28 cool household hacks and tricks.
Enrich Your Soil with This Easy-To-Make Compost
Enrich your soil and provide your plants with all the nutrient that they need by making this compost.
14 Surprising Foods You Can Indulge Without Gaining Weight
Here are 14 nutritious foods you can eat as much as you want without feeling guilty or afraid that you’ll gain weight. Enjoy!
8 Adorable Mini Indoor Plants to Liven Up Any Small Space
These low-maintenance houseplants aren’t just cute, they hardly take up any space!
I Just Found the Most Useful Material in the House!
Toothpaste has so many uses - it's truly amazing. Next time you encounter any of these problems, turn to this list to find out how toothpaste can help.
6 Simple and Practical Tips To Organize Your Kitchen
A well organized kitchen is the first step to a gratifying cooking experience