Getting nervous during turbulence is a common experience, and there’s nothing more distressing than feeling that drop in your stomach at 35,000 feet above ground. Turbulence occurs when air currents whirl in different directions and is caused by a range of reasons such as temperature changes, wind shear, fronts or thunderstorms. According to the National Weather Service , it’s “one of the most unpredictable of all the weather phenomena” of significance to pilots.
While there’s not much to be done about turbulence, there are some things you can do to help yourself relax and avoid getting hurt. Here are some common mistakes people tend to make during turbulence and what to do instead: Never stand up Experts warn against giving into your instinctive fight-or-flight response and resist the urge to get up and move around during turbulence. Stuart Fischer, MD, FAAOS , an orthopedic surgeon in Watchung, New Jersey, told SELF that standing up is the most dangerous thing one can do during turbulence — no matter how strong or well-balanced you feel you are.
Standing leaves you more vulnerable to falling down or falling into hard objects and hurting yourself. If you’re seated during turbulence, Leo Arguelles, PT, DPT, spokesperson for the American Physical Therapy Association, advised keeping your hips and pelvis aligned with your knees while you keep your feet planted on the ground. Slouching increases your changes of hitting your head on the seat in front of you.
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