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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Does Heavy Weight Lifting Make You Short?

hi, im thinking about joining the army but i m afraid that when i join the army, the army is going to make me carry army gear on my body that will weight about 70-100 pounds, and i m afraid wearing that much body gear will cause me to become shorter. i m already short and i don t want to lose any height. so please, be honest with me, would carrying 70-100 pounds of body gear such as helmet, backpack, armor, rifle, boots, and clothes everyday while running and walking. Would that cause my spine to decompress and cause me to get shorter? And I also have a slight curve in my spine, would carrying 70-100 pounds daily while running and walking cause my spine to curve more? Lastly, would running everyday cause my spine to decompress? My friend told me running a lot can make someone shorter, is that true? Simply put, would carrying 70-100 pounds everyday while running and walking for long periods of time put me at risk of getting shorter? Please answer all of my questions..thank you
posted on Sun, 5 Oct 2014
Twitter Thu, 9 Oct 2014 Answered on
Twitter Wed, 15 Oct 2014 Last reviewed on
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hello,
you will not become shorter by wearing those army gears. You told that you have a slight curve in your spine and if your stance and position is not correct during walking and running with the those gears, it can cause some damage.
Running a lot wont make you shorter.
And if carrying weights makes person shorter then all the professional weight lifters will become dwarf after some years:-), so there is no need to worry regarding this.
Hope this helps you.
Just be relaxed and apply for joining the army. All the best.
Thank you.
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  User's Response
HI
Well come to HCM
Carrying heavy weight on back does not reduce the height of human being who carries this weight, you are doing this then forget about the belief, because this is not true, hope this information helps.
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Does Heavy Weight Lifting Make You Short?

Hello, you will not become shorter by wearing those army gears. You told that you have a slight curve in your spine and if your stance and position is not correct during walking and running with the those gears, it can cause some damage. Running a lot wont make you shorter. And if carrying weights makes person shorter then all the professional weight lifters will become dwarf after some years:-), so there is no need to worry regarding this. Hope this helps you. Just be relaxed and apply for joining the army. All the best. Thank you.