Ask An Orthopedist: Growth Plates

Calendar May 9, 2017

Question: I stand at 5ft 6in and I have not grown at all for 2 years now. I am a high school athlete and was hoping that I would still grow taller to further my basketball career. Is there anything I can do to make myself taller?

There are growth centers (growth plates) in bones that allow them to get longer and allow you to grow. They close usually in the teen years and after that you don’t get any taller. The time of growth plate closure is very different for everybody. It happens in girls before boys usually. I have no idea if you are going to get taller or not, and there is absolutely nothing you can do to make yourself taller.

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