Spandex - the synthetic fibre that allowed heavy-metal musicians to perform high kicks confidently - could have a new use: preventing swelling in the legs of long-haul air travellers.
Australian medical researchers discovered wearing spandex or nylon tights on long-haul flights relieved ankle swelling and post-flight fatigue after60 Qantas passengers and pilots tested the hosiery in flight.
The study tested the benefits of full-length nylon and spandex hosiery on the ankle swelling suffered by 90 per cent of long-distance air travellers.
The uncomfortable condition - called ankle oedema - is caused by a build-up of fluid.
Exercise physiologist Stephen Lambert, of Sydney's Westmead Hospital, wanted to see whether the graduated compression tights used by athletes could also help air travellers.
Qantas enlisted volunteers to trial the tights on long-haul flights. They were worn on the outward stage of the journey, and test subjects returned tights-less so comparisons could be made.
"When subjects wore them, they had a 60 per cent improvement in their leg pain rating at the end of the flight, a 50 per cent improvement in their leg discomfort rating and a 45 per cent improvement in their leg swelling rating," Dr Lambert said.
"There was also an 18 per cent improvement in energy level rating, a 13 per cent improvement in their alertness level and a 12 per cent improvement in their ability to concentrate."
But it seems unlikely spandex tights will become part of the uniform for New Zealand cabin crew.
Air New Zealand's chief medical officer David Powell last night told the Herald the airline conducted about 600 examinations of pilots each year, but swollen ankles and associated disorders were "not a common concern".
