IF your lying down, you are taller than when standing up.

**no1_vern** · January 15th, 2008, 05:20 PM

IF your lying down, you are taller than when standing up.

The explanation goes like this: Because we are standing up, Gravity compresses our joints making us shorter than while lying down. While lying down our joints uncompress allowing our bodies to expand, therefore become taller. While I think it would change our height by only a few millimeters, and therefore barely measurable much less noticeable, what do you think? Does it sound right to you?

**SoloCamo** · January 15th, 2008, 05:50 PM

Well, there is less weight pulling you straight down in length as you aren't straight up. Seems valid to me, but i'm no physicist.

**The Real Bingo** · January 15th, 2008, 05:58 PM

I guess by that measure, one is skinnier, too.

**jokostel** · January 15th, 2008, 06:00 PM

It'd be less on us and more on an infant, as their bone structure is much softer...

**GroundZero3** · January 15th, 2008, 07:22 PM

I cant remember where i read this but apparently when you wake up you are taller than when you go to bed.

Im not sure if that is true or not

**SiliconJon** · January 15th, 2008, 07:40 PM

Originally Posted by GroundZero3

I cant remember where i read this but apparently when you wake up you are taller than when you go to bed.

Im not sure if that is true or not

I've heard that mentioned on the radio as well...

http://amos.indiana.edu/library/scripts/howtall.html

**Beemer** · January 15th, 2008, 07:51 PM

I always took this as being common knowledge. Maybe not. The way it was explained to me was that your muscles relax when you hit the sack and allow your vertebrate joints to expand. Takes about 1/2 an hour to fully relax.

**TrendyMartini** · January 15th, 2008, 07:59 PM

I have heard this as well, and always thought it made some kind of sense.

Someone should call MythBusters!!!!!

**Lord_Infamous** · January 15th, 2008, 08:32 PM

in the morning sometimes i have 1/2 inch taller than at night because after a regular day your spine is compressed and at night it decompresses. Spine compression effects height not necessarily joints in general.

I have seen this because i have been bodybuilding for a while and I keep track of weight and on occasion i get my height.

**The Real Bingo** · January 15th, 2008, 09:08 PM

I don't think it can really be tested seeing as how the difference in height would be so small that it would probably be within the margin of error for the experiment.

**lost-and-found** · January 15th, 2008, 09:16 PM

Ok, but what if you're running on a treadmill. How tall will you be then????

I guess you culd achive the same effect by hanging onto something above you using your hands, therefore having gravitiy stretch everything in your body as you dangle there in the air.