Do We Shrink As We Age?

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Growing older has many benefits: more time to spend with family, wisdom, and clearer priorities just to name a few. Along with aging comes many changes that happen to the body. Hearing, vision, memory, and hair are some of the things we lose...but what about height?

SO, WILL I START TO SHRINK?

Unfortunately, it is true that shrinking is a normal part of the aging process. Here are three reasons why shrinking happens:

  1. Your spinal discs shrink. Your spinal discs are pumped up with fluid. As you continue to age, less fluid reaches them. Less fluid causes them to flatten, meaning your spine loses length.

  2. Your foot arches fall. The arches of your foot will flatten as you age, which causes you to be just the slightest bit shorter.

  3. Your muscles lose mass. Your muscles help you stand up tall, and you simply lose them over time. The loss of muscle mass will cause your posture to falter, and gives you the appearance of being shorter.

Though shrinking is a normal part of the aging process, don’t allow yourself to worry too much as the amount of height you lose isn’t drastic. The average person can lose up to 1/4 of an inch every decade after the age of 40. So, by the time the average male turns 70, he could lose around 1 1/2 inches, whereas a woman could lose up to 2 inches.

STOP THE SHRINKING

There isn’t anything you can do to completely stop the aging process, but there are measures you can take to stop shrinking from affecting you.

We support regular exercise as part of one’s routine, and it can also help you to prevent shrinking, particularly weight-bearing exercises like jogging and running. These exercises work the hips and legs, which support muscle mass and bone mass. Another way to support the body is to get the right amount of Vitamin D, as it contributes to strong bones. Be sure to add foods rich in Vitamin D to your diet such as kale, broccoli, and almonds.

Another way to shoo away shrinking is to practice proper posture. When you are aware of your posture, you help your muscles remain strong, your bones healthy, and you prevent unnecessary stress from being put on your spine. if you aren’t sure how to maintain good posture, check out these suggestions.

Lastly, regular chiropractic adjustments can help you maintain a strong and healthy spine through all stages of life. Do you have any other suggestions to prevent shrinking? Let us know in the comments!

Patient Reviews

"Very pleased with the practice. The service is excellent and everyone seems to truly care about you as a person first. Most businesses see customers or money walking in, but these practitioners love what they do. It shows."

- Patty Uzar

"I've been with Healthy Life for many years. The staff is very friendly and efficient. The services offered are very beneficial to my wellness routine. I receive massages and adjustments regularly. They offer many packages and sales that makes it affordable for me. I have recently tried the hyperbaric chamber for both recovery and general health. This is has been really helpful since I exercise often and intensely. I have also noticed an improvement in my brain fog which comes from normal aging and day to day stress. Dr. Rob and Dr. Tina are very good chiropractors who make sure they are providing a complete wellness exam and service. I continue to maintain a healthy body and recover quickly from my day to day activities. Overall, I would recommend Healthy Life Chiropractic."

- Rachelle Prevost

"I absolutely love Healthy Life! The staff is wonderful and helpful! The doctors are amazing! I hurt my back a few months ago exercising, and nothing seemed to help! I went in for a routine visit, and explained. I was consistent with my adjustments, muscle stim and massage and within a few weeks, I am back to exercising without pain! I am a Flight Attendant, so closing overhead bins and pushing a heavy cart are necessary for my job, so I appreciate them keeping my healthy and not missing work! My foot levelers are a game changer! The best investment!

My update yesterday validated what my body told me! I am back to almost 100% You will love them!"

- Melissa Beach

"I am very grateful for the care I receive from the entire staff and doctors at HLC! They are very attentive to my specific health, well-being, and pain relief needs. I take advantage of the fact that I can go for chiropractic care, massage, therapy, supplements, pain relief, and more. It’s great to enter the practice and know that I will be treated like family."

- Jan Tardie

"I was experiencing a lot of pain in my feet following the birth of my son. I was diagnosed with plantar fasciitis in both feet. After seeing my PCP and being prescribed anti-inflammatory medication, I looked into the benefits of Chiropractic care. I was in so much pain from the plantar fasciitis that is because difficult for me to walk. I was unable to carry my newborn and walk because I was concerned for his safety. As part of my care plan, custom orthotics were recommended. Within days of receiving my orthotics I had a reduction in my pain. Regular Chiropractic visits and my orthotics have allowed me to be able to care for my son again!"

- Erica Payne

"I worked for Wal-Mart for 20 years walking on hard floors 10 hours a day. I felt a horrible pain in my right hip/buttocks area and could not bend or walk. My sister did a little research and recommended Healthy Life Chiropractic- They do EVERYTHING! After the first treatment, the pain was gone! After being educated on my problems, they worked on my whole body and it feels 100% better. I have never been a good sleeper, but I am sleeping much better and get up in the morning ready to go! I have never felt better!"

- Michael Chambers

"My daughter came in to see Dr. Rob for possible curve in her spine. She was officially diagnosed with scoliosis after her evaluation. As parents, we were having a hard time wrapping out heads around what that meant for our beautiful 8 year old girl. Dr. Rob, Dr. Tina, and the whole staff at Healthy Life Chiropractic have been phenomenal! After 2 months of treatment- regular adjustments and exercises- we are seeing a huge improvement! Her hips are aligned now, her feet meet properly, and she is feeling better all around. We haven’t retaken her x-rays yet- not until we’ve done treatment for a whole year- but based off our experience, and results we’ve seen so far, I am confident that her curve has not gotten worse and has probably even improved!"

- Margaret Wearne

"I began my chiropractic care in October 2017 because of increased pain and decreased mobility in my left hip that had gotten increasingly worse over the previous 4-5 months. I love that I have been able benefit from whole body treatment that in turn has almost completely taken away the issues I was experiencing with my hip. I am so grateful for feeling good again and I highly recommend Healthy Life for your chiropractic care and total life wellness."

- Cindy Chaisson

“The online store is wonderful. It is very convenient for those busy and always on the go. I love all the purchase options. From supplements to oils and even honey can be purchased from your computer or smart phone. I look forward to a search option becoming available as there are so many products offered.”

–Vermillion Himes

"I have been a patient at Healthy Life Chiropractic for over 3 years! After driving several hundred miles a week and spending time on the computer for work, I not only get regular adjustments, I utilize the massage therapists as well. I've recently begun using, with success, Standard Process supplements and Doterra Essential Oils. I appreciate the holistic approach to care by all of the staff at Healthy Life!"

-Debbie Fambro