Does Playing Basketball Increase Height After 20?

It’s natural to wonder how professional basketball players became so tall, especially since many people think their height is somehow linked to the sport they play. 

However, a quick look into the research on this topic shows that other factors should be considered when trying to understand the connection between playing basketball and height.

But does basketball play any factor in increasing your height?

The answer to this question is a resounding, “Maybe!”

A few conditions may allow you to increase your height even past the age of 20.

According to the American Journal of Sports Medicine, if you have reached your full height by age 15 but still have a growth plate open in one or more of your long bones, then you may be able to gain an extra inch or two in height. 

It isn’t always possible, but if you are over 20 and have at least one growth plate open, you could use basketball as part of your exercise routine to help maximize your chances.

Factors that Influence Growth After 20

There are lots of ways you can help maximize your natural height. It’s not just a matter of eating right and exercising. You can also use supplements to ensure that you’re getting the nutrients you need to grow as much as possible.

1. Eat a Balanced Diet

Healthy foods will keep your body in good shape and help it grow properly. 

If you eat a lot of junk food, your body won’t grow as much because it’ll be too busy processing all those unhealthy ingredients instead of focusing on growing taller. 

Eating foods rich in calcium, protein, and vitamins D and C will help ensure that every part of your body gets the nutrients it needs for proper development.

Some great calcium-rich foods include cheese, yogurt, salmon, collard greens and tofu.

2. Sleep well 

Your body releases growth hormones while you’re sleeping, so make sure you get enough sleep every night.

3. Exercise Regularly

Exercise is a great way to build strength, but it can also impact your height by increasing testosterone levels in men and estrogen levels in women, which are linked to increased growth during puberty. 

In addition, exercise stimulates the production of human growth hormone (HGH), which stimulates cell growth and repair. 

Some studies suggest that people who exercise regularly throughout their lives also tend to be taller than those who don’t.

5 Tricks to Increase Your Height After 20

As we age, our bones stop growing. If you grow your height after 20 years of age, you’ll have to do it through other means.

Here are some of our favorite methods:

1. Hanging: Hang from a chin-up bar, hold for 5 seconds, rest for 10 seconds, repeat until your arms fall off

2. Eating: Drink a gallon of milk every single day

3. Stretching: Stand next to the wall, stretch up and press against the wall with your hand, hold for 3 minutes

4. Sleeping: Sleep at a 30-degree angle with a stack of books under each leg so that your head is lower than your feet.

5. Posture: What’s better than growing taller? Looking taller! That’s where posture comes into play. Good posture means standing up straight with your shoulders back and head held high—this also helps lengthen your spine.

Impressive Growth Spurts in Basketball

A growth spurt is a dramatic increase in height over a short period of time, typically accompanied by an increase in weight. 

Growth spurts can be caused by hormonal changes in the body and are common among teenagers, who can grow several inches per year during their peak growth period.

In the NBA, it’s common to see young players have crazy growth spurts during their careers. 

For example, former player Manute Bol was 7’7″, and he had never played basketball until he was 25 years old!

But he’s not the only one who had a crazy growth spurt. Many other NBA players grew a lot during their careers.

Another example is former player Shawn Bradley, who grew from 6’10” to 7’6″ during his career. He started playing basketball at age 13 and had never played before then!

Are Tall People Clumsy on the Basketball Court?

We’ve all heard the old adage that tall people are clumsy. But is this really true? And if so, why?

The unique physiology of taller people makes them more susceptible to potential injuries. 

It can be particularly true in basketball—the quick stop-and-go motion of the game can put extra stress on the knee joints and Achilles tendons of taller players.

However, this doesn’t mean that tall people are necessarily more clumsy than their shorter counterparts. Taller people may just be more prone to the types of injuries that lead to clumsiness. 

Pro Tip, It’s important for taller athletes to make sure they stretch regularly and take care of their bodies to prevent injury.

Conclusion

Being taller can be a bonus for sure, but who you are on the inside is what matters the most.

If you didn’t grow that much over the course of a year, don’t be discouraged. Everyone is different when it comes to growth spurts and puberty. 

In reality, height doesn’t matter in life. The central concept is simple: focus on yourself. It is all about loving yourself, having fun by playing basketball, and focusing your attention on what makes you happy.