Indeed, there is controversy surrounding whether or not you can make yourself taller. If you want to be another five or six inches, taller, then most likely, the answer is no, that is not possible.
It is, however, practical to expect to increase height by an inch or two. In fact, your body height fluctuates depending on the time of day, and also, the actual condition of the body.
For example, if you have a part of the body that is inflamed, causing you to limp, you will definitely be shorter.
Additionally, if your back is sore, you might slump over. To take a true measurement, you need to stand up straight, but if you can’t, then you really are shorter than normal.
So, let’s set aside all the gadgets and gizmos promoting stellar overnight growth, and focus on the science behind stretching exercises for height.
Stretching Exercises To Increase The Length of Bones
Before we even start, one thing we do want to clear up is the statement that stretching can lengthen bones. There are plenty of rogue sites and products espousing the benefits of their systems in terms of making human bones longer. This is absolutely false.
A bone has its length, although that may change if there has been some sort of injury to it. Usually, when the bone has been broken or damaged, it becomes shorter, but you don’t magically get it back to the right size or lengthen it.
The truth is the bones stop growing by the age of about eighteen through twenty-five depending on the individual.
Now having said that, stretching can, and does, have many benefits for the bones. Specific exercises can increase bone density and mass. In turn, the bone is much healthier and stronger. It is less fragile, and the body appears much leaner, making it look like the bones are longer.
Furthermore, it is often said that stretching can increase the length of the spine bone. And, in a way this is true. Yet the mechanism works not so much to stretch the bone longer, but rather, to reset the imbalances in the compressions of the disks and vertebrates.
So, while the back is elongated, and you stand taller, it is not really the bone growing longer. It is the internal workings being reconditioned and restored to their natural states.
For example, if you have a physical type job that forces your back into an unnatural position, causing you to slump through your whole work shift, your body will not immediately spring back into shape. It requires stretching exercises for height to slowly recover the proper position.
Pilates and Yoga poses are often recommended as soothing exercises to get the spine realigned.
Finally, calcium, magnesium, Vitamin D, a properly balanced diet, and good lifestyle habits directly influence the condition of the body’s bones. Therefore, stretching exercises for height do not lengthen the bones.
Does Aging Affect Height?
Just because you are older today than yesterday does not mean that you are automatically going to be shorter. The exact age has nothing to do with your height. It’s what happened to you up until now that has to do with how tall you are at a specific age.
For example, you may have experiences some type of accident or injury that is causing a decrease in height. This is not age related. This is due to unforeseen damage.
Likewise, you may develop a degenerative condition that hampers your mobility, flexibility and overall stature. That could have happened at any stage in your lifetime. Diseases don’t discriminate between young and old.
What does happen, though, as we age, is that many individuals become complacent. They forfeit the activities they enjoyed, and they become more sedentary. This, in turn, leads to the muscles and tendons to become stiff. They no longer react in the same way when we were younger.
This situation is somewhat like asking if the egg or chicken came first. People are inflexible because they don’t do anything, and they don’t do anything because they are not flexible enough.
It is true, however, that scientifically, the muscles are less fibrous, and contain less water, which makes them inflexible, as well. Of course, this is a natural process, to a certain extent. But, the fact is we can stave it off by using our muscles and joints on a regular basis.
In fact, stretching exercises for height are the prefect way to help maintain joint flexibility, and keep the aging process at bay.
Does Bar Hanging Increase Height?
This another of those debatable exercises that may or may not work. Having said that, there is some science behind the idea which we will explain in a second.
But first, this exercise, like many other fallacies surrounding the how to become taller discussion, has been hyped up to make it sound like you can add six inches to your existing height. This is simply not possible, and is an overblown sales pitch.
Instead, this is what really happens with the body. Your spine is automatically compressed when you make different movements. Likewise, if posture is not very good, there will be room to improve your height.
Natural compressions happen throughout the day and night. It has been found that during sleep, the spine has increased by as much as three inches.
So in decompressing the spine through the disks and vertebrates, you are able to make yourself taller.
Additionally, when you are hanging on a bar, not only does it return your posture, but it also elongates the tendons and muscles in the arms. But, the muscles and tendons will only make you taller if you measure with your arms above your head, in the air!
Benefits and Importance of Dryland Swimming
One of the most fun stretching exercises for height is something called dryland swimming. It is also known as the alternate kick.
This exercise simulates swimming, but with no water. You work your body with strokes like you were water swimming. You’ll find that this is very good for the lower back. It stretches it out and strengthens it, making you stronger and taller.
Two other benefits are improved posture, and muscle memory, which is simply the body’s way of remembering how to do things like walking and running. You condition the body to behave in a specific way.
Does Skipping Make You Taller?
Undoubtedly, there are many ideas floating around that make us unsure what to believe. We maybe desperate to improve how we look, and make ourselves taller, but realistically, only so much can be done and that depends on science.
So while, all types of sports are good for the body because they are a form of physical activity, the truth remains that none of them really make you taller. That includes skipping. This is a great activity for cardio and coordination, but it is not going to stunt your growth or cause it to suddenly spurt up.
Does Diet Affect Height?
This is absolutely true, but probably not in the way you think. Children who are malnourished, and that do not have access to the same well-balanced diet of other kids, will most likely be shorter.
It is commonly thought that the reason the people of Scandinavian countries have evolved to be the tallest people on average, is because of their access to proper food. Of course, it does help, also that many are descendent of the Vikings.
But the point is that cultures that have proper health care systems, and lead a life of nutritional eating will be taller.
The myth is eating certain foods to be taller. Eating directly affects a child’s ability to grow properly. For adults, however, picking a specific food item and saying it causes one to increase their height over time is just ridiculous!
Focusing on general fitness is probably a better goal. In fact, you might ask yourself what type of stretching is most often recommended for general fitness? We have the answer for you by following the link.
Final Thoughts On Stretching Exercises for Height
Hopefully, this article has helped you to understand the science behind stretching exercises for height. As we do concede that certain circumstances allow this to happen, in the strictest sense, you are not going to be able to get an extra six or seven inches from stretches, pills or gadgets.
Nonetheless, stretching does aid in correct posture, which in turn, allows you to stand taller.
