Stretching Formula* - Proof, theories, and assumptions

No sufficient evidence yet – only time will tell ~

Note:  All of the facts, theories, assumptions, and pictures below are just some examples of how adaptable the spine is.

• Fact #1 – The earth’s gravitational pull (plus pulling forces or heavy weights) may lengthen our spine over a period of time.
  
  Living and Working on the International Space Station! Microgravity
  Source:  http://resources.yesican.yorku.ca/trek/csa/ISSmicrogravity_student.html
  
  Did you know that your body gets taller in space?  Because the spine is no longer compressed by the force of gravity, the vertebrae separate slightly from one another and the person's body lengthens. Astronauts often have backaches, which, it is thought, are caused by relaxation of the muscles and ligaments of the back. Back on Earth, the force of gravity will influence the astronaut's spine, which will return to its normal size.
  
  
• by:  NASA Explores
  Source:  http://www.nasaexplores.com/show2_k_4a.php?id=04-002&gl=k4
  
  …Think about a spring. If you push down on the spring, it twists until it is a tight coil. What happens if you quit pushing? It pops back out. Pretend your spine is like a spring. The same thing happens to it in space. There is less gravity pushing on the bones. So, they can stretch out.
  
  The same thing happens to you at night. When you lie down, gravity does not push on your spine. So, by the end of the night you are a little taller. This is easy to prove with a yardstick. Measure your height carefully as soon as you get up. You will find that you’ve grown. It is not as much as the astronauts grow in space. But, it is caused the same way. During the day, the bones in your back will be pushed back together. You lose the little bit that you “grew” overnight.

• There are two ideas about why this happens. The first is that the spine is easier to stretch. Other bones aren’t as easy to pull apart. The spine is curved. Without gravity pushing on it, it lets go. So, microgravity makes it flatten a little.
  
  The second idea says that the bones in the spine are squeezed together in regular gravity. They can’t hold as much fluid. In space, they can hold more. This makes them bigger. It also puts more space between each bone. This adds to your height.
  
  Spines were first studied on Skylab. That was more than 20 years ago. Six astronauts were studied. All six grew just a little. Their spines started going back to normal as soon as they got back to Earth. It took 10 days to get back to their old size.

• Theory #1 – There are 2 ARGUMENTS being discussed. Some experts believe that the phenomenon of the Padung with brass rings on neck may prove that a repetitive & violent force may grow, thicken, and lengthen cartilage, discs, and bones (one Padung woman wore more than 30 brass rings on her neck). On the other hand, in 2004, ABC Television 20/20 program did some experiments & measurements & prove that the Padung's neck does NOT lengthen, but only appears longer due to the crushing and deformation of the collarbone and upperchest. It's still unclear whether cartilage remodeling such as lengthening the spinal discs may help height seekers to gain some centimeters. What are the unsolved questions? ==> Does it take months OR years to grow such centimeters? And how can we increase the intensity level & duration in thickening the cartilage discs in the shortest time?
  
  

• The Padung or "long-necked" Karen is one of the Karen groups residing in Thailand's Mae Hong Son province.  The Term "long-necked" signifies the practice of adorning their women with brass rings around the neck.  Bones in the neck are forced to grow longer because additional rings are added every few months which provide a repetitive and powerful force.  One woman in Plam Piang Din Village wears 37 brass rings around her neck and she’s an old lady.
  
  
• There is really NOT much difference between the vertebrae between your neck and spine.  Your 7 cervical vertebrae support your head and neck and allow you to nod and shake your head.  Your ribs attach to your 12 thoracic vertebrae.
  
  
• Shock absorbers – Sandwiched between your vertebrae are pads of tough, fibrous cartilage called intervertebral discs that cushion your vertebrae and absorb shock. These discs, together with the curved, S-shape of your spine, prevent shock to your head when you walk or run. [BBC Science]
  
  

• Flexibility – the joints between individual vertebrae aren't very flexible.  But working together they give the spine a wide range of movement, allowing you to arch backwards, bend forwards and twist from side to side. During strenuous movement, strong ligaments and muscles around your vertebrae stabilise your spine and help to control movement. [BBC Science]

• Assumption #1 – Long-neck Giraffes and Sauroposeidon (tallest dinosaur) are examples of how disc cartilages have gone through evolution & can be lengthened dramatically due to stretching & reaching.
  
  
• The remains of the tallest dinosaur, named Sauroposeidon, reveal this beast stood at a height of 18 m (60 ft) and weighed some 60 tonnes (59 tons). Certain vertebra measured up to 1.2 m (4 ft) long. Amazingly, this powerful creature's bones have survived the 110 million years since it last walked the Earth during the Cretaceous period. The bones were discovered in Oaklahoma in 1994. The length of its neck is about a third larger than the Brachiosaurus, its nearest competitor, whose height reached 12 m (39.4 ft). [Guinnessworldrecords.com]
  
  
• Why do giraffes & Sauroposeidon dinosaur have long necks?  There are some hypotheses which are outlined as follows:
  a)  They have long necks because the long necks enable them to reach food that is unavailable to others.  In other words, they can better feed on leaves on tall trees that other animals cannot reach.
  b)  They have long necks because long necks are effective weapons for one male against another during mating. [Biological Science - UIC]
  c)  Studies were done and they determined that giraffes feed at heights approximately 40 -60% of their height
  
  

• Click here for some amazing pictures of the tallest dinosaurs ever to walk the earth.

• Assumption #2 – According to a January 2004 TV episode on ABC's Nightly News, we're tallest in the morning.  Experimenters of the show were measured before going to bed, and then after waking up in the morning - they were close to an inch taller.
  
  

• External physical forces and prolonged unnatural posture in many occupations can lead to excessive compression of the vertebrae.  Our backbones compress and we shrink about 1 to 2 cm (3 cm for some people) throughout the day.  When you lie down, gravity does not push on your spine. So, by the time you wake up the next morning after a full 8 hours of sleep, you are a little taller.