Deep Vein Thrombosis

[blackfive]

There has been a lot of publicity recently about this condition, allegedly caused by long periods of sitting on long-haul international flights and I was wondering if people confined to wheelchairs are also prone to the same problem?

[andy hughes]

The DVT problem on aircraft is caused by the length of time seated in what is really an unnatrual position for an abnormal length of time, for a body used to normal movement. There is a theory that the recycled air breathed by passengers may also contribute to the problem, but the main difficulty is the constriction of circulation perculiar to aircraft journeys. Wheelchairs are designed with far more freedom of movement, where possible, for the torso and legs, so adequate circulation is assured.