Shrinking!!

PCS244 · November 28th, 2007, 04:56 PM

Every Saturday morning my dad would measure me and I'd be 5'9 exactly, except later on in the day when he would measure me (8 or 9hours later) I'd be only 5'8 1/4. This has only been happening in the past few weeks. Why isn't the 5'9 sticking and could it be because I'm still growing? thanks

**ColdFX** · November 28th, 2007, 05:07 PM

The reason why you are taller in the morning than at night is due to your spine.
In between the discs of your spine is a gel-like substance which provides cushioning. As the day progresses the gel becomes slightly compact due to the pressure of standing upright, so you appear to shrink a little.
However, when you sleep the pressure is taken off your spine so the gel resumes to its normal size.

I hope this helped!

**gunshowbabe** · November 28th, 2007, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ColdFX

The reason why you are taller in the morning than at night is due to your spine.
In between the discs of your spine is a gel-like substance which provides cushioning. As the day progresses the gel becomes slightly compact due to the pressure of standing upright, so you appear to shrink a little.
However, when you sleep the pressure is taken off your spine so the gel resumes to its normal size.

I hope this helped!

Awesome info! very interesting....

**tooncesthecat** · November 28th, 2007, 07:27 PM

You might also notice this in your rearview mirror in your car. Being shorter in the evening, I have noticed the difference in the slight adjustment I have to make to properly align the mirror.

PCS244 · November 28th, 2007, 08:08 PM

Oh, thanks. Once I'm done growing and over 18 the gels in my spine won't be compacting so drastically, and I own't be shrinking as much, right?

**ColdFX** · November 28th, 2007, 08:57 PM

Dont worry, this happens to everyone. It has nothing to do with age, its just something natural that happens.

Why am I taller in the morning and shorter at night? - Yahoo! Answers

**wildstang** · November 28th, 2007, 11:32 PM

also posture has a big deal to do with a persons height. morning your rested so one tends to stand taller more upright and as time progresses through the day you begin to slump in your posture losing a little height. as far as your discs go in your spine, they wont change much over your lifetime untill you get older or pick up bad habits such as smoking! smoking causes your discs to lose some of there elasticity and become more harder making them more susceptable to rupture. turning a slight yellowish in color.

**PythonPower** · November 29th, 2007, 02:48 AM

As you age and get up in your years, it is not common for people to shrink permanently by a few inches. my uncle shrank by 2 1/2 inches.

PCS244 · November 30th, 2007, 04:50 PM

I see. So will I always be shrinking 3/4 inches (with the exception of when I'm 65 or 70 and older) or when I'm done with my growth spurts, ext. will I be only shrinking 1/2 or 1/4 an inch a day? Are there any exercises that can prevent myself from shrinking so drastically? Thanks

**ColdFX** · November 30th, 2007, 07:08 PM

No sorry, its just the way your body is.
But it happens to EVERYONE!
Even the worlds tallest man is a bit shorter in the evening that he is in the morning.
It has nothing to do with having a growth spurt, so dont worry about it.

**tooncesthecat** · November 30th, 2007, 10:36 PM

To reiterate what's already been said, it's the discs between your vertebrae that get compacted. It's like if you take a marshmallow in between your fingers; it smashes down if you squeeze it and then will slowly return to normal after the pressure is stopped. The discs get this pressure from the weight of your body pressing each vertebrae into the next one with the discs (like marshmallows) in between each of the vertebrae. At night when you sleep, this pressure is relieved and it allows the discs to expand again.