Hey, everyone. I'm an avid BMX Biker and i usually do a lot of jump and ramp tricks. Sometimes when i land a trick, i feel like the impact is very rough on my body. I was wondering if doing tricks could possibly stunt my growth because of the impact im placing on my bones or could bmx biking actually promote growth instead. What do you guys think? Should i kick the hobby or stick with it?

Nothing can really stunt a person's growth. Lifting weights, myth. Caffeine, myth. Now, a very poor diet can stunt your height a TINY bit. And the only other thing that could really stunt your growth would be an actual injury to a growth plate. Thankfully, in most cases that i've seen, can be treated and the person will grow normally. I wouldn't worry about that at all. Your spine will compress, but your spine will the decompress and you will go back to normal height. Nothing to worry about.

D-Von Wrote:Nothing can really stunt a person's growth. Lifting weights, myth. Caffeine, myth. Now, a very poor diet can stunt your height a TINY bit. And the only other thing that could really stunt your growth would be an actual injury to a growth plate. Thankfully, in most cases that i've seen, can be treated and the person will grow normally. I wouldn't worry about that at all. Your spine will compress, but your spine will the decompress and you will go back to normal height. Nothing to worry about.

The weight lifting myth is only because steroids came into play when weight lifting became popular among teenagers. At that time it was not known that they would have effects on growth. However, if taken with an estrogen suppressant during post-cycle supplemention these effects would be limited if not eliminated.

BMXing i believe is good. Although you are not stretching your legs to reach the pedals you are still having to push your legs down which increases muscle. It is also good for releasing human growth hormone that will help you grow.

I know a lot of tall BMX people so i wouldn't worry about it

Very true, Strik3r. Steroids, the kind that increase testosterone, are known for fusing growth plates faster than they should. The myth also came from heavy lifters who would squat, and then notice a .05-1 cm lose in height. You will lose pretty close to .05 centimeters in height after squatting, but will return to normal height within an hour or two.

Unlikely but yes it can
stunt your growth