Dr Frank - Why would a 45 year old grow taller?

Perfectly correct you can't increase in height from aged 18. This is because the epiphyses of your long bones, the growth plates, fuse at this time which makes further changes in both length absolutely impossible.

Even excess doses of growth hormone, either artificially given or released 'naturally' by a pituitary tumour will not result in bone extension. Instead it produces acromegally where the bones thicken, and become weakened.

Sorry Frank ( nice name BTW) but the diurnal variation in height, tallest on wakening, shortest, due to the downward pressure of weight on the discs between the vertebrae of the spine is an average of 0.7 cms and a maximum of 1 cm.

How To Grow 3-6 Taller : http://growtallersteps.com/

Dr Frank is usually in the Women's Health and Diet and Fitness section. You may want to try posting this question there. I wish I could answer your question, though and can't wait to see his answer! I do wish he would stray over here for a while, and answer some q's though.. We do have Tweety here and she is really good too!

Good luck!

p.s. I was wondering about posture, but most people do make sure they are their full height when getting measured....

Edit:

Hey Dr. Frank! Glad you came by today! Thanks for the reply! can you swing by more often? : - ) and what is up with you thumbs down people, can you not see where he is "TC" d? And posture IS probably the reason. Sorry peeps, but I am an "all things gut related" expert. This WAS a job for Dr. Frank! lol!

Peace!

A lot of your height issues, has to do with your posture. Keeping your back straight, and your shoulders back increases your height. Although if you sit about humped over in the shoulders and back, then your back bone begins to curb, taking away from your height. So obviously, you have learned to sit with excellent posture. : )

Have you lost weight? When i put on weight i was at least an inch shorter than when i was thinner! I also grew a shoe size when i put on weight. Also, my friend used to have a curved spine in a S shape. She visited an osteopath and over a period of about 18 months she gained 3 inches in height. Posture definitely affects your height!

Variation occurs according to the time of the day the measurements are taken. We are all taller first thing in the morning (after laying prone for several hours) and by being up and about all day you find that you measure less in the evening.

Dr Frank is correct, growing after age 18 (20 for males) is impossible. Has your posture changed recently? Perhaps you were standing up straighter- this will make a difference.

Have you had surgery on your knees, that might have caused it..Go to ask.com and Research if you can get taller with that sort of procedure.