Can You Increase Bone Density and Size for a Stronger Appearance?
Increase bone density? Hello Dr. Chen, I would like to ask you if it's possible to make bones thicker? I feel that my arms are particularly thin compared to others of the same height, which makes me feel very slim and unattractive. After all, having a more muscular arm is of...
Dr. Chen Xingyuan Reply:
Dear Netizen: The thickness of bones is related to factors such as genetic predisposition, nutritional status, exercise habits, bone diseases, neuromuscular disorders, and hormones. At 19 years old, your skeletal development is nearly complete, as the growth plates have mostly ca...[Read More] Can You Increase Bone Density and Size for a Stronger Appearance?
Understanding Growth Hormone Treatment for Height Concerns in Teens
Not growing taller? My son is 16 years old, 165 cm tall, and is worried about not growing taller. I heard that growth hormone injections can help. Are there any other effects on the body from taking growth hormone?
Dr. Shi Qiming Reply:
Dear Sir/Madam: Factors that influence height include not only growth hormone but also other factors such as the skeletal system. While administering growth hormone is a feasible method for increasing height, we do not recommend it. You may visit a pediatric orthopedic specialist...[Read More] Understanding Growth Hormone Treatment for Height Concerns in Teens
Understanding Leg Cramps: Myths and Causes Explained
Regarding calf cramps? Hello, doctor! I have a question. While I was sleeping, my calf suddenly cramped. My classmates say that this is a sign of growing taller. Is this true, or could there be other reasons for the calf cramps? I really want to grow taller, so I'm asking fo...
Dr. Shi Qiming Reply:
Dear netizen: Height is influenced by various factors, including genetics, exercise, and nutrition. The belief that calf cramps during sleep indicate impending growth is incorrect. Instead, it is important to identify the true causes, such as trauma or electrolyte deficiencies. A...[Read More] Understanding Leg Cramps: Myths and Causes Explained
Dealing with Painful Toenail Growth After Injury: What to Do?
Nail issues? Doctor, my big toe nail was lifted due to an accident a few months ago. It has grown back, but the new nail does not resemble the old one; the sides of the new nail are digging into the flesh. I want to trim the sides, but it causes me significant pain. What should I...
Dr. Luo Zhaozhong Reply:
Hello: Nail injuries can sometimes affect the nail bed, resulting in uneven growth of the new nail. Occasionally, the skin on both sides of the nail may also be injured, leading to paronychia. In such cases, it may be necessary to seek assistance from a surgeon for debridement su...[Read More] Dealing with Painful Toenail Growth After Injury: What to Do?
Understanding Shoulder Blade Pain: Causes and Treatment Options
Please inquire about scapula issues? Dear Dr. Su, I have been experiencing pain in the lower left side of my neck and upper back since mid-August of this year. After consulting a doctor, I was advised to apply heat and was prescribed oral medication, but the doctor did not speci...
Dr. Su Yiren Reply:
Hello Cathy, 1. If there is persistent pain in specific areas of the body, it should be thoroughly examined. The most basic step is to perform an X-ray to check for any acromioclavicular joint pathology or cervical spine nerve compression. There have been cases where individual...[Read More] Understanding Shoulder Blade Pain: Causes and Treatment Options
Understanding Benign Cartilage Tumors in the Knee: Causes and Diagnosis
Knee cartilage tumor My younger sister is 18 years old. Earlier this year, she discovered a protrusion on the inner side of her right knee due to a sports injury. Recently, she underwent an X-ray at a major hospital, and the doctor confirmed it to be a benign cartilage tumor. How...
Dr. Lin Gengxiao Reply:
1. When assessing bone tumors, considerations include the nature of the cells, the tumor's location, and the rate of tumor growth. While malignant tumors pose a threat to life, even benign tumors can cause significant issues depending on their location; for instance, tumors ...[Read More] Understanding Benign Cartilage Tumors in the Knee: Causes and Diagnosis
Can Calcium Supplements Help Increase Height After Age 25?
How can I increase my height? Hello, doctor. I am 25 years old and 162 cm tall. If I take calcium supplements or height-increasing calcium, is there a chance I can grow taller? Are there any dietary methods that can help me increase my height? Thank you! ^__^
Dr. Zhou Lizhi Reply:
Dear user: Since you did not specify your gender and considering that 25 years of age is already adulthood, dietary treatments such as nutritional supplements or calcium tablets are generally not very effective at this stage. It is recommended to incorporate exercise therapy (suc...[Read More] Can Calcium Supplements Help Increase Height After Age 25?
Can I Still Grow Taller at 15? Height Growth Tips for Teens
At 15 years old and standing at 155 cm, you may be wondering how to increase your height. Here are some tips that could help: 1. **Nutrition**: Ensure you have a balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals, particularly calcium and vitamin D, which are essential At the age of 15...
Dr. Su Yiren Reply:
Hello, Xiaoting! It is possible for you to grow taller. I grew an additional 2 centimeters between the ages of 16 and 18. The key is to engage in more physical activity and limit video gaming and internet usage. I hope this information is helpful to you. If you have any questions...[Read More] Can I Still Grow Taller at 15? Height Growth Tips for Teens
Can You Still Grow Taller After 26? Myths and Facts Explained
Height increase I am 26 years old and my height is only 161 cm. Some people say it might be due to genetics, but my cousins and male relatives are all over 180 cm! I wonder if my practice of taekwondo since childhood has affected my height. I've heard that stretching too ear...
Dr. Lin Gengxiao Reply:
1. At the age of twenty-six, it is theoretically impossible to grow taller, as the growth plates in the bones typically close around the ages of sixteen or seventeen. Once the growth plates are closed, there will be no further increase in length. 2. Once the growth plates are c...[Read More] Can You Still Grow Taller After 26? Myths and Facts Explained
Understanding Bone Age and Growth Plate Healing for Height Increase
How to determine your bone age and the healing of growth plates? Dear Doctor, I have a question regarding my situation. I am currently a sophomore in college and my height is only around 160 cm, which I am not very satisfied with. I have visited various hospitals' endocrinol...
Dr. Su Yiren Reply:
Hello JCR; at your current sophomore level, it is too late to use Growth Hormone (GH). It is more effective to use it between the ages of fourteen and eighteen, when the growth plates have not yet fully closed. In adults, the use of GH can lead to muscle hypertrophy (as seen in b...[Read More] Understanding Bone Age and Growth Plate Healing for Height Increase
Why Haven't I Grown Taller? Understanding Growth Issues and When to Seek Help
Not growing taller? I have felt like my height has stopped developing since I started middle school. Now that I'm almost 18 years old, my height has hardly changed. I would like to ask if there might be something wrong with my body. Should I see a doctor, and if so, which sp...
Dr. Shi Qiming Reply:
Dear Sir/Madam: Please visit the Department of Metabolism and the Department of Pediatrics at our hospital. Hsinchu Hospital Orthopedics.[Read More] Why Haven't I Grown Taller? Understanding Growth Issues and When to Seek Help
Understanding Growth Plate Surgery and Limb Lengthening Techniques
Could you please tell me about the surgery you mentioned, Dr. Zhou? Hello Dr. Chou, in your previous article, you mentioned 1. Growth Plate Stimulation Surgery: Could you briefly explain this procedure? 2. Bone Lengthening Surgery: Is this the so-called limb lengthening surgery, ...
Dr. Zhou Hongzhi Reply:
These surgeries are technical issues. Since your growth plates have fused due to your age, these surgeries are no longer functional for you. If necessary, we can discuss further during an outpatient examination.[Read More] Understanding Growth Plate Surgery and Limb Lengthening Techniques
Why Am I Growing So Slowly? Tips for Height Increase During Puberty
Why does growth occur so slowly? I am about to enter the first year of junior high school, but why am I still so short at only 145 centimeters? I have already entered puberty, and I drink milk every day, yet I am still growing slowly. What can I do to grow taller quickly?
Dr. Shi Qiming Reply:
Dear Ting-Ting: There are many factors that influence height, such as sleep, genetics, exercise, and nutrition, among others. Besides growth hormone, other factors like the skeletal system also play a role. If you truly wish to increase your height and your growth plates have not...[Read More] Why Am I Growing So Slowly? Tips for Height Increase During Puberty
Understanding Moderate Scoliosis: Causes, Treatment, and Management Options
Scoliosis I recently had a chest X-ray, and the report indicated moderate scoliosis. I often sit in improper positions; could this be the cause of my scoliosis, or are there other possible reasons? Also, what does moderate scoliosis mean? How is the degree of scoliosis classified...
Dr. Shi Qiming Reply:
Dear Ann, Our orthopedic department defines moderate scoliosis without a specific degree measurement, as the majority of scoliosis cases have unknown causes. The general treatment methods include monitoring, bracing, and surgery. If the patient is in their adolescent growth spur...[Read More] Understanding Moderate Scoliosis: Causes, Treatment, and Management Options
Dealing with Dance-Related Bruising: When to Seek Help for Your Toes
Bruising of the toes due to dancing? I'm sorry to bother you. I think my dancing caused bruising on my toe due to ill-fitting shoes. I thought it would improve in a couple of days, but it's been almost a month and there hasn't been any improvement. What should I do...
Dr. Sun Ruisheng Reply:
The issue raised by the reader likely refers to bleeding under the nail bed. If this is accompanied by bruising in the soft tissue or around the joint, one should suspect potential injuries to the bone or joint. Generally, bleeding under the nail bed often leads to ischemic necro...[Read More] Dealing with Dance-Related Bruising: When to Seek Help for Your Toes
Where to Find Lumbar and Cervical Traction Therapy in Taichung?
Which hospitals in Taichung offer lumbar and cervical traction therapy? Hello! I would like to temporarily increase my height by 0.5 to 1 centimeter. How long will the effect last, and how much time is needed to achieve this temporary height increase? Which hospitals in Taichung ...
Dr. Shi Qiming Reply:
Dear Sir/Madam, Currently, there are no temporary methods to increase height that have any substantial therapeutic significance. If one wishes to grow taller, it should be approached through diet and exercise, and it is more effective before the growth plates close. Lumbar and c...[Read More] Where to Find Lumbar and Cervical Traction Therapy in Taichung?
Effective Height Growth Methods for Teens: What Works and What Doesn't?
I would like to know if these methods are effective? I am currently 15, almost 16 years old, female, and about 162 cm tall. I started menstruating quite early, around the fourth or fifth grade, and I have grown about 8 cm since then. However, I have heard that early maturation ca...
Dr. Shi Qiming Reply:
Dear Claire: Bone age does not always correspond with chronological age. Generally, the growth plates close within one to two years after the onset of menstruation in females, but this is not always the case. An X-ray is necessary to determine whether the growth plates have close...[Read More] Effective Height Growth Methods for Teens: What Works and What Doesn't?
Is Height Predetermined? Understanding Growth Plate Theory and Influencing Factors
Growth Plate Theory According to the theory of growth plates, once they close, further height increase is not possible. Does this mean that height is predetermined? Is it true that the amount of growth plates one has at birth is fixed, or can other factors also influence height?
Dr. Zhou Hongzhi Reply:
1. Height is not predetermined. 2. Growth plates do not close until after adulthood. 3. Height can be influenced by postnatal nutrition, exercise, and stimulation of the growth plates. 4. If the growth plates are not fused, one can undergo growth plate stimulation procedure...[Read More] Is Height Predetermined? Understanding Growth Plate Theory and Influencing Factors
Understanding Femoral Head Overgrowth: Surgical Options and Insights
Proliferation of the femur? Hello, doctor. I previously suspected that the protrusions on both sides of my hips were due to congenital hip dislocation. However, after an X-ray, I realized I misjudged the diagnosis; the result showed that it was due to the broadness of my hips for...
Dr. Shi Qiming Reply:
Dear Mr. Allen, 1. It is possible to remove the protruding bone, but this would unnecessarily increase the surgical risks and result in an additional scar, which may be too great a sacrifice. 2. I did not undergo surgery for cosmetic reasons. 3. The double incision surgery is cu...[Read More] Understanding Femoral Head Overgrowth: Surgical Options and Insights
Understanding Knee Cartilage Growth: Symptoms, Surgery, and Recovery
Cartilage (tissue) growth next to the knee? Hello Dr. Luo: My husband (37 years old) discovered a small cartilage growth next to his knee four years ago (it only appears when bending the knee). Due to his busy work schedule and the fact that it wasn't very painful, he hasn&#...
Dr. Luo Zhaozhong Reply:
Hello: The knee is composed of four main bones: the femur, tibia, patella, and fibula. If there is uncertainty about where the growth is occurring, and if the cartilage volume is small without affecting the surrounding soft tissues, it is generally advisable to observe the situat...[Read More] Understanding Knee Cartilage Growth: Symptoms, Surgery, and Recovery