The Million Dollar Question Is: Does Cycling Increase Height?
Before answering this let us tell you some facts about a person’s height. How tall a person will be 80% depends on his/her genetic factors.
Most humans grow up to 2 inches per year until puberty. After puberty, the individual grows 4 inches per year until the age of 18-20. But the height of all persons does not increase with the same speed. It varies from person to person.
Coming to the real question, does cycling increase height?
The answer may be yes in some cases and no in some cases. So to know the exact answer to the question of whether cycling increases height, read this article till the end.
Does cycling really increase height? It is important for you to know that the average height of girls in India is 162 cm (5.3 ft) and that of boys is 177 cm (5.8 ft).
If you are a boy and your height is less than 177 cm and your age is more than 20 then you are a short boy.
20-40% of a person’s height depends on a few factors ranging from environment, nutrition, cycling to exercise.
Keep in mind that most people reach their peak height by the age of 18-20. (Source)
Nutrition along with cycling can work to increase your height if you feel that you are not achieving the recommended size during the growing years.
But if both your parents are short in height, you are unlikely to grow even if you cycle, exercise and eat a proper diet.
How to do cycling to increase height?
You need to buy a long bicycle whose pandal is taller than your height. So that you have to stretch out the legs to reach the cycle pandals. Make sure you are taking a proper diet and doing other stretching exercises like hanging etc.
For most, your height will not increase after 18-20 years. Therefore, it is better for you to do stretching exercises along with a proper diet and cycling before you turn 18.
In general, the growth plates or epiphyseal plates of 19-year-old boys and 16-year-old girls are not active due to changes in hormones
Takeaway:- Taking a proper diet along with cycling and other exercises can help you increase height before the age of 18.
Exception: If your growth plates, which are areas of cartilage near the end of your bone, are active, you may still be growing tall after 20 years.
Conclusion:- A 20-year-old is less likely to grow tall, even if they cycle with a proper diet. Cycling during puberty can be expected to increase their height if neither of their parents is short.