No one feels completely comfortable during a long-haul flight unless you’re traveling in first class. The seats are cramped, there’s never enough legroom, and sitting in one position for hours wreaks havoc on your back.
But, there’s a solution. And it’s actually relatively simple. Stick with us for this one—all you need is a sock and two tennis balls.
Place the balls inside the sock and put it behind you, somewhere between the bottom of your shoulder blade and the top of your hip. The makeshift device will apply pressure to the middle of your back which often tenses up from sitting for too long.
The reason that the tennis ball sock works is because it mimics acupressure. Similar to acupuncture, the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practice uses the fingertips to apply pressure, as opposed to needles.
Studies have shown that acupressure can significantly reduce back pain, muscle tension, and even motion sickness. According to TCM, the technique releases energy (qi) that is trapped along pathways in the body known as meridians.
Not only can you use the ball-filled sock on plane rides, but it also works fantastically for road trips, too. So go on, plan that journey cross-country!