Yes.  Don't sit still for it.  Really.  On a long car ride, take a break
every 90 minutes (or less) and walk around for a few minutes.  My parents
always said they would do this and never did.  I went with them on a trip
and insisted (it helped that I was driving)  and they couldn't get over how
little extra time it took and how much better they felt.

On a plane trip.  The most interesting people on the plane are standing
around in the back, just to get off their butts and on their feet.  All you
have to say if anyone objects is that youget blood clots in your legs.  Just
be considerate of the serving cart when you move from your seat.  And an
aisle seat is easier to stretch you legs from and to get out of.  A bulkhead
seat has more leg room.  If they offer a business class upgrade at the
airport for a halfway reasonable price, take it.

Jo

Regular breaks (every hour) and range of movement exercises (providing
these are safe). Which part of your spine is affected? I do NOT like
doing the range of motion exercises while in the vehicle, especially the
neck ones. One bump in the road and you'll understand why! In a plane
you wont have that option, you'll have to risk the turbulance, but
hopefully it'll be infrequent enough that it will only make up a
fraction of 1% of the flight time.

Ari

yep, it takes me awhile too.  for plane trips, in addition to the other
suggestions, i take my muscle relaxants before i get on the plane.

when the weather is chilly, i use a hometic (don't own any financial
interest in the company nor the product) back masseur with heat in my car.
i plug it into my cigarette lighter with its 12-volt auto adapter.  that
heat and massage often helps.   i noticed last month that target sells a $20
version of the one i have, that i purchased when they first came out.

those disposable thermal wraps, you can get in most pharmacy sections in
stores, come in handy, too.

kate

I completed a 23-day, 3984 mile trip through 9 states last month.
That included 10 days in Portland for a 3-day ASA gimpfest and
the National Square Dance Convention.

Breaks every hour to 90 minutes.  Get out and walk around.
Enjoy the scenery at the rest stops.  A 5 or 10 minute break
is not going to add that much time to your travel plans.  If you
intend to drive 8 hours a day, that's only 40-80 minutes extra.
And you'll arrive at your destination quite refreshed instead
of worn out and haggarded.

I doubt if I'll every fly again.  Too much hassle with the security
checks and my hip replacement.  Too little leg room.  The aisles
are too narrow to walk up and down.

One thing that felt very good when driving was one of the seat
cushions with all the little wooden balls.  Also, I made myself a rule
to stop at every rest stop at a parking spot the farthest from the
shelter and walk down and back.

Of course, you could go rent one of those cars they show on TV where
they don't have to stop and stretch! LOL What I can't figure out is
how the guy (who glares at the car that doesn't stop) knows they
didn't stop at the previous rest stop?

Loujean