Can you get shorter by lifting weights?
Can you get shorter by lifting weights?
Let’s start the week with exploring a question that stops many of us teens from going to the gym. Our parents believe this, our elders believe this but it is extremely painful to know that even some physical trainers and weight loss specialists believe in it.
So, let’s answer this in one word, FALSE.
Yes, it is absolutely false that weight lifting at a young age stunts growth and interferes with growth patterns of the body.
The Theory
Our body’s height is regulated by many factors, genetics being the ruling one. If your genes have the ability to grow till 5 feet, believe me nothing can make it grow or retard. So, if you are going to lift weights, it won’t stunt your height, it will only grow to your genes potential. Also thinking that jumping and stretching and hanging from a bar would increase your height, these would only aid in height growth but growth would be according to our genes.
Our bones have certain plates at the ends of the bone called the epiphyseal plates, which are responsible for growth of the bones. Studies show that compression does not stop their growth, amazingly, the stress strengthens the bones and the joints. Lifting weights does not put enough stress to make the plates stop growing.
Conclusion
Next time any of you want to join the local gym or weightlifting club and you face this myth, read this, educate yourself and explain the science to your elders. There is a link below showing effective studies and evidence. Weight lifting does not stunts your growth but helps with joint and muscle conditioning, better health and a stronger body, so adopt it in your daily regimen and watch it work wonders for you.
Peace
P.S. If you feel this helped you, please share this, let’s educate ourselves and our loved ones, for such blogs covering fitness topics and FAQs come back to Life In a Dumbbell.
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