Can Playing Basketball Make You Taller?
Can playing basketball make you taller? Many people have been asking themselves this question for a long time. I wish to answer this question by giving some scientific justification and dispelling certain myths. Let’s start by debunking the myth that playing basketball can increase your height.
Debunking the Myth
There is no scientific evidence to suggest that playing basketball can make you grow taller. Height is primarily determined by genetic factors and can also be influenced by environmental factors such as nutrition and overall health. While exercise, including basketball, is important for overall health and can help strengthen muscles and improve posture, it is unlikely to have a significant impact on increasing height.
However, we do believe there are many benefits of basketball for kids. For example, it encourages them to be active and healthy while also building their athletic skills.
So what should we focus on if we want to become taller? Let us Find Out!
Into the Science
For the Kids
Let’s now discuss science! Well, playing basketball does make you taller, to put it simply. In the case of kids, playing basketball can make you taller for two main reasons, thus this claim is a little deceptive.
The height-weight ratio is the first factor; the heavier a person gets, the more likely it is that they will lose height as they get older (due to loss of cartilage). Younger athletes who lack substantial muscular mass or who are still fitting into their bodies will therefore gain height.
The second reason is that playing basketball causes the bones in your feet and ankles to develop. Your calves will grow bigger as a result, and your bones will grow faster than usual (kind of like weight-lifting).
Another essay from NBA players claims that “Your body is still developing when you are young. Young basketball players must therefore continue to exercise throughout their adolescent years in order to get taller.”
The last argument I want to make is that practicing basketball does increase your balance and vertical leap (two things needed for jumping).
A study from ExRx.net, however, found that “Vertical jump height diminishes after roughly age 25 because of a reduction in suppleness and smooth muscle tissue.” In other words, when you are younger, you will be able to jump higher.
For the Adults
There are several significant distinctions in how playing basketball can make you taller for adults. The first is that an adult will stop growing if they still have cartilage.
As a result, individuals who play basketball for an extended period of time risk losing their current height because muscle growth prevents their cartilage from developing to its full capacity.
Adults have already reached their full height, which is the second justification. In light of the second argument, playing basketball does not increase your height relative to your age group—in fact, it may even decrease it!
Should I then play basketball? Absolutely! It’s a fantastic method to stay fit and active while practicing crucial motions like leaping, balancing, etc. I would advise playing for brief intervals if you are not in your teens or twenties to prevent losing the height you already have.
Can I play Basketball if I am Shorter than an NBA Player?
The average height of an NBA Player is about six feet, seven inches tall. Hence, if you are anything below six feet we would recommend not pursuing a career in basketball. The reason is that as a shorter individual, it will be harder for you to score and rebound the ball due to your size.
Basketball is for everyone! Whether you are a teen or even an adult and want to play for fun, go ahead! You can still benefit from the physical activity of playing basketball while also enjoying it as a recreational sport.
Basketball Can Make You Shorter!
Just like the question on if basketball makes people grow taller, it must be repeated that Basketball does not, according to scientific research, make you shorter. Likewise, although environmental factors like diet and general health might have an impact, genetics play a major role in determining height. Basketball is a great form of exercise that can help with posture and muscle strength. But, it is unlikely to have an effect on height loss.
Nonetheless, it should be noted that owing to jumping, landing, and other physical activities during games or practices, certain basketball players may temporarily feel spinal compression. After a game or practice, this spinal compression can cause athletes to measure slightly shorter, but their height should quickly return to normal.
So yes basketball can make someone shorter, BUT only for a short moment than they were before! Basketball can also lead to back problems and knee injuries which are all reasons why people lose height too. That’s why basketball players need to keep their form and technique correct when exercising to avoid any potential injuries.
Can I Increase my Height in Any Other Way?
Unfortunately, the answer to this question is no. While there are many things in life that might slightly affect your height, such as nutrition and genetics, basketball cannot help you grow taller through adulthood. You can, however, train your children to enjoy basketball so they stay active and healthy throughout their lives!
Nutrition
As previously mentioned, nutrition is one of the factors that might affect your height throughout adulthood. According to the website Can I Grow, “Poor nutrition or a lack of important vitamins and minerals can increase the risk of becoming shorter as you grow older.”
In other words, if your body is not getting all of its nutrients from food during childhood and adolescence (when people are growing), then it will not have the proper energy to complete the process of growing taller.
Although genetics play a major influence in determining height, a person’s maximum height can be maximized by good nutrition and other environmental circumstances. The following nutrients are crucial for encouraging healthy growth:
- Protein: Building and repairing tissues, such as bone and muscle, depend on protein. Lean meats, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy goods, beans, and legumes are all excellent sources of protein.
- Calcium: Calcium is essential for the development of healthy bones and teeth. Dairy products, leafy greens, tofu, almonds, and fortified meals are all excellent sources of calcium.
- Vitamin D: Vitamin D is essential for strong bones and can facilitate calcium absorption. Light from the sun, fatty fish, egg yolks, and fortified meals are all excellent sources of vitamin D.
- Vitamin A: Vitamin A aids in the creation and growth of bones. Carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, and other leafy greens are good sources of vitamin A.
- Zinc: Zinc is necessary for normal development and growth. Meat, seafood, legumes, and nuts are good sources of zinc.
A balanced diet that includes a range of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins is crucial in addition to these nutrients. Healthy growth and development can also be supported by drinking plenty of water and exercising frequently. It’s crucial to consult a healthcare professional or certified dietitian for individualized dietary guidance on height growth.
Genetics
There is also evidence that genetics can affect your height; if you are born with genes for short stature, then it will be more difficult to grow taller even through basketball (or anything else).
If this sounds like you or someone in your family has a history of being shorter than average as an adult, then you should probably not play basketball so you do not lose what height your body already has.
Stretching and Posture could help!
The website Healthy Living suggests stretching exercises as a way to increase height. They also recommend wearing shoes that fit properly and not slouching down when you’re sitting or standing up straight (Healthy Living).
Conclusion
Playing basketball can increase your height during childhood and adolescence, but it might decrease your height as an adult. If you are thinking about how to become taller in adulthood, I would recommend consulting a doctor or nutritionist instead of going through the trouble of finding out if basketball will affect your height.
Thanks for reading our blog post about whether or not playing basketball makes you taller! I hope that the scientific reasoning was useful in forming an argument as well as debunking some misconceptions about if basketball can help improve height. Please feel free to leave any comments and questions below.
