Does running/jogging make you shorter?

Question

I heard that when you run or jog it compresses your bones and you can shrink a few inches. My friend just started running track every day at her school and she used to be 5"8 and a half now she's about 5"7 so she asked her coach and her coach said running too much can compress your bones, stunt your growth and temporarily make you a bit shorter. Is this true?

Answer 1

I'm 5'11, and if anything, it's made me taller (due to all the stretching I do before, during and after a single run).

I highly doubt running 'stunts' ones growth, mainly because it all depends on the runner. Does your friend run with her head/shoulders slouched forward (think humpback)? Or does your friend run with a straight back and her head straight?

Remember, running posture is important- as it also takes form in ones casual stance. (Before I became a runner, I was slouched most of the time: bad posture)

Answer 2

i doubt that it makes you shorter, im a runner too and when you stretch it helps and can probably make you taller (making your muscles looser) and the measurments could be wrong. the sport that makes you shorter is gymnastics that stunts ur growth.

Answer 3

The theory is that running can compress the discs between the vertebra in your back.

I doubt that the change would be significant no matter how much you run.

People are shorter in the evening compared to their height in the morning.

Just standing causes compression of the disc, but  you regain that height while  you sleep.

Your friend did not lose 1 1/2 inch because she ran too much.

She has not been running too much and she has not been running for years and years.

So running might cause a temporary lose of height, but it is not going to stunt your growth.

Bones are not compressible.