I am an 18 year old male with slightly less than average height (5'7",
5'8", around there). However, average must include a much broader
group of people than I am exposed to as I am the shortest male of all
my friends and collegues. Is there any way I can increase my height at
this point? Doing some google searches finds some shady material for
special insoles that activate your pituitary (spelling?) gland and
some pills. I doubt both the efficacy and safety of these programs. Is
there anything else out there? Possibly some stretches I could do? I'm
not looking for a large increase, just a few inches.

---

Request for Question Clarification by mvguy-ga on 23 Jul 2002 13:47 PDT

How much medical risk are you willing to take?

Hello Randomgoogler-

After a lengthy search I found that there is no proven easy way to
grow taller.  Especially not with simple stretches or pills.  There
are several exercise programs that claim to straighten your posture
and give a "taller appearance".  The most popular of these is
Stott-Pilates Exercises.

There are two proven medical procedures that can increase your height,
Human Growth Hormone Replacement and Limb Lengthening Surgery. 
Unfortunately both can have negative side effects.


_Limb Lengthening surgery_

The surgery was originally used to help correct deformities (i/e:
severe asymmetry in the limbs) but has recently been used to increse
the height of "Little People" (dwarves and people born with
achondroplasia).  Though this procedure is controversial within the LP
community, it can be viewed as a "necessary" medical procedure,
whereas yours would be for vanity and not covered by surgery.  I don't
think you'd be able to find an ethical surgeon to perform the
operation, even if you could afford it.

It's probably much more than you're willing to go through since it
takes several years, and the potential complications include:
bending/twisting of the bone at the site where it is cut, nerve
damage, and paralysis of the limb.


_Human Growth Hormone Replacement_

In the US Human Growth Hormone is available by prescription only for
regimented treatment; any place that is offering  it for  sale over
the counter is either operating illegally or selling something else. 
Some foreign countries such as Mexico sell it without prescription. 
Be warned however, HGH will not just make you taller, it will make you
bigger all around.  It was recently implicated in the Major League
Baseball streoids scandal.

Human Growth Hormone will make you taller, but not safely so.  

It sounds like your best bet is the aforementioned Stotts Pilate
Exercises.  Information about Pilates is included in the useful links
section of this answer.

If nothing works, don't worry.  If you are only 18 there is still a
chance that you will grow taller.

hope this information sufficiently answers your question,

-actualwolf.




Useful Links


International Center for Limb Lengthening
http://www.mcllr.com/

A _Detroit News_ article about limb lengthening surgery
http://detnews.com/2001/health/0108/01/a05-256978.htm

Recent Sports Illustrated story on steroid and HGH abuse in baseball
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/si_online/special_report/steroids/

FAQs from US organizations that practice Stotts/Pilates
http://www.iowastottpilates.com/stottpilates.htm
http://www.thefitmindandbody.com/faq.html
http://www.studiolotus.com/

Articles about Human Growth Hormone Replacement
http://neurosurgery.mgh.harvard.edu/e-f-944.htm
http://www.usdoctor.com/hgh.htm



Sites Used


International Center for Limb Lengthening
http://www.mcllr.com/

Little People of America, Inc
http://www.lpaonline.org/

The Detroit News
http://www.detnews.com

CNN/Sports Illustrated
http://www.cnnsi.com



Search Strategy


dwarf grow taller
stretches +taller
"limb lengthening surgery"
"limb lengthening surgery" +"side effects"
pilates exercises taller
human growth hormone side effects
"human growth hormone" baseball

Very through, I also liked the bibliographic method of giving me the information.

Randomgoogler,

I'm posting this as a comment because it's just based on my personal
experience, but there's an excercise system you may have heard of
called Pilates that might be a great help...

It was developed by Joseph Pilates - he was interned in England during
WWI and became a nurse, and began developing the system by attaching
springs to hospital beds so immobilized patients could excercise.  The
system was traditionally used by dancers, until it caught on with the
public in recent years.  The excercises focus on the core abdonimal
and back muscles.  Strengthening and toning these muscles leads to
improved posture, and a leaner, taller appearance. (I have tried it,
and it really is true.)

Pilates is generally divided into mat work and machines.  The machines
look more like torture devices than what you'd normally see in a gym,
and you need a trainer to use them effectively, which can be expensive
(or unavailable, depending on where you live.)  Mat classes, however,
require little to no equipment, and are very effective.  There are
some great video mat work classes (I use and like the Living Arts
series, available on Amazon.)

A google search on pilates will yield lots of information, and if you
have more questions, I'm happy to help!

Best,
Rebeccam-ga

Hi,

Quick comment here:  In general, males will continue to develop and
grow - put on muscle and height - until age 21, 22.  I know this
doesn't answer your question about what to do now, but realize you
still have a chance to gain some height.

tlspiegel-ga