The question of whether or not you can grow taller by working out is a long-debated one. While some say it is impossible, others would affirm that they were able to get a couple of inches thanks to some exercises.
Is it the truth or just a myth? Does working out make you taller? The answer is below. Read and find out now!
How does working out affect your height?
Before discussing whether exercise can make you taller, we want to mention how people grow.
We all know that the human growth hormone (HGH) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) are two important substances for your growth or epiphyseal plates. They help strengthen the elongation and ossification of the bones, which is how you get taller and taller.
And when the plate closes (something that occurs around the end of puberty), it is thought impossible for a person’s height to increase any further. But in some cases, it is probable for those who still experience growth spurts in adulthood. This might occur when their growth plates remain open.
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Is it really possible to get taller by working out?
In some cases, working out can affect your height because it promotes growth hormone levels. As children or teenagers, the growth plates are still open. Whenever their bodies release the growth hormone, this signals the bones to grow, and some of the plates transfer into bone.
When puberty is over, most people’s growth plates are fused. So, higher HGH levels cannot transform into increased height. But you can do some stretches and exercises to improve your posture, making you stand straight and appear taller.
When is the best time to work out?
The afternoon is known as an ideal time to exercise if you want to grow taller. That is because:
- Your muscles are the strongest and most flexible in the late afternoon and early evening.
- Your joints are the most supple during this time.
- Your body temperature is also at its highest during this time.
Importantly, if you have a day full of stress, exercise might help release these feelings and make you feel like a new person.
What age should you work out to grow taller?
Working out for height increase should be performed from an early age when the bones are still growing. By performing proper exercises, the body will release height growth hormones necessary for height gain. Moreover, these exercises might help tone and strengthen the muscles.
When you get older and older, your bones might lose density, leading to breaks and a bad posture. The slow wearing down of the bones can make you lose height. So, keeping working out might prevent osteoporosis, make you look taller, and become healthy.
What are the best exercises to increase height?
Practicing certain exercises might help tone and heighten your leg muscles. They also work well in releasing the growth hormone needed for height increase. Let’s check out the top 6 exercises below!
Hanging
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This is one of the easiest exercises you can do anytime and anywhere. Hanging your body from a bar helps extend your muscles, especially those surrounding the spine and lower back. Also, it helps improve your posture and reduce the effect of gravity on your height.
- Find a pull-up bar or a tree branch that you easily hang from without touching your toes on the ground when you stretch.
- Jump and grab the bar.
- Hold the body straight all through.
- Keep that position for at least 30 seconds and release your grip from the bar.
- Perform about three times daily.
Swimming
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Like bar hanging, swimming is a simple and refreshing exercise that can stretch nearly all parts of the body and help increase your height. Swimming for at least 5 hours per week can do wonders in making you get taller. Also, it is one of the best cardio workouts to help you lose weight. Remember that overweight people often look shorter. So managing proper weight is necessary to gain height.
Dry land swimming
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If you cannot visit the pool, you can opt for dry land swimming in your room. This exercise is similar to swimming, so it helps improve the flexibility of body muscles.
- Lie down flat on your stomach and extend the whole body.
- Place both arms straight in front of you with the palms facing down.
- Lift the left arm higher than the right arm while raising the right leg as far off the ground.
- Keep this position for at least 4 seconds and repeat with the other leg and hand.
- Do 3 to 5 times and relax.
Stretching exercises
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Whether these stretching exercises are the cobra stretch, side stretch, spine stretch, or cat stretch, these would add some gains to your height, as long as you do it the right way. Stretches are also easy to perform because they do not ask for any equipment.
Stretches consist of extending the muscles while maintaining a certain position. For instance, when you stretch in the morning, this helps decompress your intervertebral disc, allowing you to get taller a bit.
Jumping exercises
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Working out by jumping is another way to make you taller in an effective manner. While jumping, the calf and spine muscles get through stretching due to the powerful lifting of the feet from the ground. Moreover, it helps enhance blood supply to the bones, improve bone density, and promote growth hormones.
Some of the best jumping exercises you can try are jumping ropes, vertical jumps, spot jumps, and squat jumps. Or you can try playing basketball because it includes jumping actions, which aid in muscle growth and enhances blood supply to different parts of the body.
Cycling
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If you want to emphasize how to grow your legs, why don’t you try cycling? It is highly recommended to start cycling at puberty to stretch the legs better. Also, you should raise the height of the saddle to extend the body effectively. If your teens love the freedom of a bike ride, encourage them to do it more often to attain optimal height soon.
What to consider when working out?
It is easy to work out every day, but you need a plan to help you gain your fitness goal – increasing your height.
- Make a balanced routine, for instance, 150 minutes of moderate exercises or 75 minutes of vigorous one per week, or a combination of moderate and vigorous exercises.
- Start cautiously and progress slowly to improve your range of strength, motion, and endurance.
- Set an ideal time to work out regularly.
- Plan to include different exercises to emphasize various parts of the body.
- Listen to your body and take a break if you get unsatisfied feelings.
- Refuel with good nutrition after working out.
- Remember to monitor your progress.
In summary
While working out does not directly affect your height, it does aid your body in reaching its potential. But even if you have already passed puberty, you should not stop working out because it definitely helps you to become the healthiest version of yourself.

Joy Bauer is a renowned physician and nutrition expert who has dedicated her career to helping people live healthier, happier lives. With over two decades of experience in the field of health and wellness, Dr. Bauer has become one of the most trusted voices in the industry.
One of Dr. Bauer’s areas of expertise is in the field of height growth. She has worked with countless patients over the years who were looking to increase their height naturally, and has developed a range of effective strategies and techniques to help them achieve their goals.
Dr. Bauer believes that a healthy diet and lifestyle are essential for optimal growth and development. She works closely with her patients to develop personalized nutrition plans that are tailored to their unique needs and goals. These plans include a variety of nutrient-dense foods and supplements that are designed to support healthy bone growth and development.
In addition to her work in height growth, Dr. Bauer is also a leading expert in the areas of weight loss, disease prevention, and overall wellness. She is a regular contributor to a number of popular media outlets, including The Today Show, The Dr. Oz Show, and Good Morning America.
If you’re looking for a physician who is passionate about helping you live your best life, look no further than Dr. Joy Bauer. With her expertise, compassion, and commitment to excellence, she is the ideal partner for anyone who is looking to achieve their health and wellness goals.
The reason behind the creation of the website HowToGrowTaller is to provide effective guidance and support to individuals who are looking to increase their height naturally. Dr. Joy Bauer recognized that many people feel self-conscious or insecure about their height, and that there is a great deal of misinformation out there about how to grow taller.
With HowToGrowTaller, Dr. Bauer wanted to create a comprehensive resource that would provide individuals with the tools, knowledge, and support they need to achieve their height goals. The website includes a wide range of resources, including nutrition plans, exercise routines, and other proven strategies that are designed to support healthy growth and development.
One of the key benefits of HowToGrowTaller is that it is a one-stop-shop for all things related to height growth. Instead of spending countless hours researching different strategies and techniques, individuals can turn to the website to access everything they need in one convenient location.
Overall, the goal of HowToGrowTaller is to help individuals feel more confident and empowered in their bodies. By providing them with the resources and support they need to grow taller naturally, Dr. Bauer hopes to help people achieve their height goals and improve their overall quality of life.