Top tips for travelling with osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and the most common joint problem in the UK. It affects at least half of people aged over 55 and can lead to joint pain, swelling, and stiffness. Hips, knees, neck, and lower spine are often the most affected areas, although many people have osteoarthritis of the fingers too.

While there's no reason you shouldn't holiday if you know how to manage arthritis, it's well worth doing some planning to make sure your holiday is as magical as possible. Keep reading to find our top tips for travelling with osteoarthritis and some further information about the travel insurance with health conditions you can get to cover you on your travels.

Plan Your Travel

If long walks through the airport pulling your luggage isn't feasible, then almost every airport will offer assistance and helpers to ensure your journey through the airport, dock or train station is as smooth as possible. If necessary, you can book a wheelchair that you can pick up and use at the terminal. You'll need to contact the airport well in advance to arrange this and to avoid waiting lists.

If you can, travel in the middle of the week and during term time when airports are less busy. Likewise, if you're taking public transport, remember that an early flight may be a bargain, but there are fewer trains and buses in the early mornings, and you may need to make more changes, which means more walking with your luggage. No matter how you’re travelling to and from the airport, make sure you allow as much extra time as you can to avoid delays and disappointment.

Think about how you're going to get to the airport as well as what happens when you arrive.

READ MORE: The Ultimate Guide to a Stress-free Airport Check-in

Keep Your Body Moving

If you have osteoarthritis, you will likely notice that your joints stiffen after sitting still for long periods, particularly in a cramped position.

If you're driving to the airport, plan in time to stop and do some simple stretches for the legs. Try to book an aisle seat or a seat at the front of the cabin when travelling by plane, so you have room to stretch and can get up and walk around regularly to stretch your legs. Try to do this at least every 30 minutes.

If you're travelling within the UK, opt for a train rather than the bus – it's much easier to leave your seat on the train and move around, if necessary, which should help you avoid pain and stiffness where possible and mean toilets are easily accessible.

Be Prepared with Pain Relief

When you're travelling, you're likely to be doing more walking than you might usually at home. You may also be sitting in an uncomfortable position, unable to get up, for longer periods of time. If you have 'as needed' medication to take when you feel pain, you might consider taking it regularly on travelling days, rather than waiting until you're in discomfort.

It is always wise to overpack medication when heading on holiday or on a trip. Delays and cancellations are uncontrollable, so in the rare instance you are away for longer than possible, having extra medication will reduce stress. Having the right level of travel insurance for seniors will also cover any delays or issues while you’re away.

Keep Your Body Supported

If you have osteoarthritis, you may use a walking stick, knee brace, or possibly a cane or walker. A foldable walking stick may be easier to travel with, especially if you don't use it all the time.

Do remember that while you can take a walking frame through airport security, it's worth contacting the airport in advance to check their rules on this. Whether or not you'll be able to take your frame into the aircraft cabin will depend on the airline's policy, so it is worth checking with your airline in advance too.

You may use a pillow for support for a painful joint, so when travelling, an inflatable version would take up less room in your suitcase and can even be slotted into your hand luggage. If your pain is often eased by resting your knee on a pillow or raised item, ask the hotel to provide extra or take your own; this should help when at dinner or enjoying a drink.

Dress for Success

Tight or uncomfortable clothing can make joint discomfort worse, so opt for stretchy or loose clothes when travelling or sitting for a prolonged period of time. The opposite is true for shoes, even if you want to dress up while you're away, make sure you have well-fitting shoes with good ankle support while you're travelling or walking. Look for shoes with well-padded insoles to reduce pressure on your joints. Practical rather than glamorous is definitely the order of the day where footwear is concerned.

READ MORE: How to Pack Your Suitcase like a Pro

Don't Skimp on Sleep

While your routine is bound to be different on holiday, you should always build in time for sleep and try to stick to a routine as much as possible.

Keep Your Body Warm

Many people with osteoarthritis get relief from hot or cold packs and ice packs. Find a travel version to take with you or pack some hand warmers to use whilst you’re away. Warm water can help ease arthritis pain, so it’s worth seeing if you can find a hotel that has a sauna, hot tub, or even a warm pool to use when possible

Even if you can’t, build in time at the end of the day for a warm bath. Check with your hotel if they’re offering a bath rather than a shower in your room.

Swimming is an excellent form of exercise if you have osteoarthritis – the water supports your joints, so it doesn't put any strain on them, but you're exercising your muscles. And even if you don't swim regularly at home, a warm-weather holiday is a perfect opportunity to get in the pool.

Pace Yourself

Exercise is crucial to keeping your joints mobile, strengthening your muscles, and avoiding increased stiffness. However, you don’t want to ruin your holiday by overdoing it, before or even whilst you’re there

Plan any trips to include plenty of breaks and don’t be unrealistic about what you can manage; allow yourself extra time if needed. Bear in mind that walking on the flat is likely to put less strain on your joints than on very uneven surfaces, so while you want to stay active, you might want to take the cable car rather than climb up the side of the mountain for the view.

Be Insured

Getting reliable travel insurance is essential and offers peace of mind, especially if you have a medical condition. If you don't declare arthritis, your travel health insurance may not be valid, which can be deeply painful to your pocket.

Take a moment to look at the range of medical travel insurance policies you can take out before travelling and ensure you are picking cover that is right for you. For more articles and guides, ensure you look at our blog, which is full of helpful articles.