NM Duke Fan
11-21-2016, 04:42 PM
Since this is a fairly frequent topic, I thought I would share my thoughts on this from over the years. i have worked with quite a few athletes as a health care expert, and am also a life-long scientist and sportsman.
I have noticed that shoe brands do vary. I have had some basketball shoes that without a doubt added a bit to my height.
What kind of orthotics are allowed during these measurements. Some of the orthotics out there are quite thick.
Speaking of which: An additional factor is arch support, and some orthotics create quite an arch lift; some too much in my opinion. Many athletes have rather fallen arches, and if they are standing barefoot, their effective height is lessened as the arch collapses and they lose a bit of height.
This arch collapse can be more pronounced if a player weighs 300 pounds compared to 170! A factor in weak arches is that most people no longer walk around barefoot on the grass, which helps to keep the arches strong. I walk barefoot some just about everyday, and my arches are higher than a few years ago, even though I put on some additional muscle weight. Highly beneficial for the feet to strengthen them!
All of us are taller when we wake up in the morning, if we have slept horizontally. (Those who sleep hanging upside down are probably even taller in the AM!) This allows the spine to decompress. If a player was measured in the early AM the measurement may be at least a half inch more of height, in some cases even more, compared to late evening.
Those who use an inversion table regularly to decompress the spine tend to have a bit more height than they otherwise would. I personally hang from my knees on a monkey bar at the nearby park everyday, and this has added a good half inch to my height, even though I am in my late 50's.
As NBA players get older, they can get a bit shorter unless they are decompressing after games. All those years of pounding takes a toll. Those who eat lots of food that help maintain the discs do better, i.e., bone broths that contain lots of minerals and amino acids like proline from the tendons and ligaments. Paleo people got a lot of this in their diets. Modern people mostly just eat the meat. And Wolves likely had fewer hip and spine problems than do modern dogs!
People in general do tend to get shorter over time from the effects of gravity and wear and tear..But as outlined above, there are available tools to keep your "chin up!"
I have noticed that shoe brands do vary. I have had some basketball shoes that without a doubt added a bit to my height.
What kind of orthotics are allowed during these measurements. Some of the orthotics out there are quite thick.
Speaking of which: An additional factor is arch support, and some orthotics create quite an arch lift; some too much in my opinion. Many athletes have rather fallen arches, and if they are standing barefoot, their effective height is lessened as the arch collapses and they lose a bit of height.
This arch collapse can be more pronounced if a player weighs 300 pounds compared to 170! A factor in weak arches is that most people no longer walk around barefoot on the grass, which helps to keep the arches strong. I walk barefoot some just about everyday, and my arches are higher than a few years ago, even though I put on some additional muscle weight. Highly beneficial for the feet to strengthen them!
All of us are taller when we wake up in the morning, if we have slept horizontally. (Those who sleep hanging upside down are probably even taller in the AM!) This allows the spine to decompress. If a player was measured in the early AM the measurement may be at least a half inch more of height, in some cases even more, compared to late evening.
Those who use an inversion table regularly to decompress the spine tend to have a bit more height than they otherwise would. I personally hang from my knees on a monkey bar at the nearby park everyday, and this has added a good half inch to my height, even though I am in my late 50's.
As NBA players get older, they can get a bit shorter unless they are decompressing after games. All those years of pounding takes a toll. Those who eat lots of food that help maintain the discs do better, i.e., bone broths that contain lots of minerals and amino acids like proline from the tendons and ligaments. Paleo people got a lot of this in their diets. Modern people mostly just eat the meat. And Wolves likely had fewer hip and spine problems than do modern dogs!
People in general do tend to get shorter over time from the effects of gravity and wear and tear..But as outlined above, there are available tools to keep your "chin up!"