Heavy Squats makes you SHORTER...

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CADreaming09
CADreaming09 Posts: 311 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hello everyone,

I was recently introduced to heavy squats because I like squats and I thought adding weight might be kind of good, but I came across Lots of sites that say heavy squats and squats in general make you shorter?!?! WTF!!!

I really don't see how it would, but I haven't really researched it and this is my first attempt to get some opinions on it.

Does anyone believe this? Why does it make you shorter? And how?

Thanks:flowerforyou:

Frankie
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Replies

  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
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    That makes no sense at all. How can strengthening your muscles cause a decrease in the size of your bones?

    Any squat I do is "heavy," since my body is so heavy! :laugh:
  • wellbert
    wellbert Posts: 3,924 Member
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    I can see you being slightly shorter after doing them, for the same reason you're slightly taller in the morning.

    It's just compression in your back.
  • Determinednoob
    Determinednoob Posts: 2,001 Member
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    But they mess up your knees right?
  • itsuki
    itsuki Posts: 520 Member
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    Oh, the internet. You never cease to amaze me.

    Squats can TEMPORARILY compress the spine. Causing a tiny, hardly noticeable difference in some people that lasts all of half a day.

    That is all.
  • MariaMariaM
    MariaMariaM Posts: 1,322 Member
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    This doesn't make sense to me at all. I am not sure how it can make you shorter. All I know is that it has given me legs of steel. There is no giggle and no cellulite.
  • Tilran
    Tilran Posts: 626 Member
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    It cant make you physically shorter, it doesnt do anything to your bone size.....Only way you would be shorter is if you ruined your posture by doing them and you seemed shorter....but not actually shorter.
  • Rays_Wife
    Rays_Wife Posts: 1,173 Member
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    I'll take my chances.
  • fraser112
    fraser112 Posts: 405
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    hey guys my mum told me saturated fat causes heart attacks? she says i just need to eat grapes on a fool moon and i will loose 10 pounds to.

    i threw out my protein shakes aswell since they are steroids.
  • ilovedeadlifts
    ilovedeadlifts Posts: 2,923 Member
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    heavy squats can cause some spinal compression.

    thats why you did the reverse hyper after squats..........
  • fit4lifeUcan2
    fit4lifeUcan2 Posts: 1,458 Member
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    You would have to herniate a lot of discs in your spine to lose height. I've lost 2 inches due to 5 herniated discs and 3 bulging discs but it took years upon years for this to happen. As we all age we do get shorter due to things like poor posture and disc problems. i wouldn't worry about heavy squats making me shorter.
  • guapogringo
    guapogringo Posts: 201
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    heavy squats can cause some spinal compression.

    thats why you did the reverse hyper after squats..........

    I have always felt this and i do believe it is possible.
  • chivalryder
    chivalryder Posts: 4,391 Member
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    Spinal compression.

    Think about it. Your spine was designed to hold up your body weight. Without strengthening your back, and throwing heavy weights onto your shoulders, your spine will be taking most of the load.

    It was never designed to regularly hold such weight on your shoulders.
  • NanoBear
    NanoBear Posts: 67
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    You lose about 1cm (about 2 fifths of an inch) every day due to gravity compressing your spine, and then you gain it back again at night while you're lying down. I can see squats possibly adding to that, but you still regain it at night.
  • NatsukoG
    NatsukoG Posts: 104
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    I've been doing squats regularly now since February this year. I was 171cm tall when I started and I'm still 171cm tall so I wouldn't worry too much :smile:
  • Determinednoob
    Determinednoob Posts: 2,001 Member
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    But they mess up your knees right?
  • ilovedeadlifts
    ilovedeadlifts Posts: 2,923 Member
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    But they mess up your knees right?

    only if you break parallel :P
  • wellbert
    wellbert Posts: 3,924 Member
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    Spinal compression.

    Think about it. Your spine was designed to hold up your body weight. Without strengthening your back, and throwing heavy weights onto your shoulders, your spine will be taking most of the load.

    It was never designed to regularly hold such weight on your shoulders.

    The weight is actually held by a system of sinew, muscle, and bone. Not just "your spine." When properly conditioned, the back can be loaded very regularly- as many people throughout history have known. Luo women, for example, carry nearly as much as their own bodyweight on their heads regularly.
  • Yanicka1
    Yanicka1 Posts: 4,564 Member
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    Shoot.......I am doomed
  • JustJennie1
    JustJennie1 Posts: 3,843 Member
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    But they mess up your knees right?

    If done improperly yes.
  • phillieschic
    phillieschic Posts: 615
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    Well, considering that I do up to 175 squats a day, based on this theory, I figure I'll basically be non-existent at some point...

    Sometimes, the BS is just laughable! :drinker:

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