Ian C Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 Everyone knows you're taller at the start of the day than at the end, right? Because when you sleep your spine uncompresses and gravity then recompresses it during the day. I know this through two observations - my rearview mirror is never in the right place for the daily commute when I first get in the car, and doorframes are more hazardous to my head first thing in the morning. So, after years of 'knowing' that ones spine compresses during the day, I actually decided to measure it, because that's the sort of person I am Morning me = 201cm Evening me = 200cm The difference was more like 14mm but as my measurement method was accurate to about 5mm I thought I'd round it to 1cm. So there you go, it's true, and it's about 0.5% of my height or just over 1% of my spine. Fascinating -Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanM Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 Surprised you have not calculated this before now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spidermonkey Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 Thank you for sharing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanM Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 Oh, and it becomes less of a difference as you get older Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lbm Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 Yes, at the start of the day I'm 5' 5". By lunchtime - size of a chaffinch! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian C Posted May 7, 2009 Author Share Posted May 7, 2009 Yes, at the start of the day I'm 5' 5". By lunchtime - size of a chaffinch! I postulate that shortarses people will experience less compression distance-wise and possibly less %agewise because of the weight of their upper half. Fatties Heavier people though will experience a higher compression. I need others to try this out -Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexJames Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexM Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 I knew it happened, but I was expecting a few mm rather than over a centimetre! You should try staying up for an additional 12-24 hours to test for furthur compression Ian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angarak Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 Do you stand at the end of the bar on your own much when you go to the pub? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b_have Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 Its not my spine that is longer in the mornings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewOW Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 I postulate that shortarses people will experience less compression distance-wise and possibly less %agewise because of the weight of their upper half. Fatties Heavier people though will experience a higher compression. I need others to try this out -Ian But being 9'10 as you are, then does 1cm really make that much difference?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl_S Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 Good stuff Ian. A shortie like me every mm counts really. Both below the belt and above. I have ancedotal evidence that pilates increases spine length. Hmm, reminds me to go to a class before my yoga on sat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbourner Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 You could try sleeping upside down and see if that makes a difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stan Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 Try measuring yourself when lying down - should be about 2" more I think (haven't tried it though) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lbm Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 I have ancedotal evidence that pilates increases spine length. I just use elevated boots. No one can tell under the jeans Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tricky-Ricky Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 Imagine how much shorter you are after 30 years:( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ewen Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 I concur with your observations Ian. For your spreadsheet info, I'm 6' 2 1/2" in the morning and 6' 2 1/4" in the evening. Furthermore, my nipples are exactly 9 inches apart, in case you want to add another column and continue the survey I started on here back in 2005. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedM Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 Imagine how much shorter you are after 30 years:( Pilates, Tai Chi and the like can help prevent 'shortening' in later life and may even make you a little taller as a result of correct alignment of the spine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kranz Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 Ian, have you tried hanging upside down in a bat-like fashion round about lunchtime to see if you can supress the shrinkage???? I think you need to try it at work tomorrow Furthermore, my nipples are exactly 9 inches apart In metric please Ewen, we're part of the SI system now..... all Europeanised Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ewen Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 Ian, have you tried hanging upside down in a bat-like fashion round about lunchtime to see if you can supress the shrinkage???? I think you need to try it at work tomorrow In metric please Ewen, we're part of the SI system now..... all Europeanised Sorry, 228.6mm. Just measured the wifes...hers are 310mm apart while standing up, and 965mm apart when lying down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homer Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 I postulate that shortarses people will experience less compression distance-wise and possibly less %agewise because of the weight of their upper half. Fatties Heavier people though will experience a higher compression. I need others to try this out -Ian There's some truth to that Ian, according to the docs I'm 2cm taller now than I was 33kg ago (In metric, just for Kranz ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tricky-Ricky Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 Sorry, 228.6mm. Just measured the wifes...hers are 310mm apart while standing up, and 965mm apart when lying down. You had best hope she hasn't been looking over your shoulder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tricky-Ricky Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 Pilates, Tai Chi and the like can help prevent 'shortening' in later life and may even make you a little taller as a result of correct alignment of the spine. Won't do much for arthritic knees though, probably lost 10mm as the joint lining has gone:( will let you know if having bionic ones helps in a couple of years;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TLicense Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 I postulate that shortarses people will experience less compression distance-wise and possibly less %agewise because of the weight of their upper half. Fatties Heavier people though will experience a higher compression. I need others to try this out -Ian "Normal size" people will surely experience a higher compression than abnormal lanky streaks of... My thinking is that they're closer to the large mass that is the Earth and gravitational forces decay with distance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kranz Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 "Normal size" people will surely experience a higher compression than abnormal lanky streaks of... My thinking is that they're closer to the large mass that is the Earth and gravitational forces decay with distance. 'Top of Everest' test required??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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