Patient's question:
Daughter is 2 years old, very intelligent, but her height is only about 83cm, which is 4-5cm shorter than the standard. What should I do? I am 1.63m, and her father is 1.70m, and we are not considered very short. Does anyone know which hospital is better to see? For growth and development? Because this is not a serious illness, general hospitals usually don't have specialized departments for this. Do you have any good suggestions?An expert has already replied: Hello, it is recommended to have a check-up at the pediatric orthopedics department to assess the child's growth condition, and to visit the endocrinology department to check the child's growth hormone levels.
Follow-up question:
I visited a pediatric senior expert and had my child's heart checked.
Doctor's answer:
Hello: From what you mentioned, there is absolutely no problem with the child's condition! It is simply a matter of individual physiological differences. In adolescents, the long bones of the limbs are only relatively hard in the diaphysis (), while the ends are composed of cartilage. During growth and development, these cartilages develop a center of ossification, gradually hardening, expanding, and contributing to the increase in height. Therefore, a person's height is closely related to the development of their bones. Regular physical exercise improves blood circulation, enhances the body's ability to absorb nutrients, and boosts the growth capacity of bone cells. As a result, it promotes more vigorous bone growth and makes bones stronger and denser. This naturally leads to an increase in a child's height. According to medical experts' research, among children of the same age and gender, those who regularly participate in physical exercise are, on average, 4–8 cm taller than those who are less active, with some differences being even greater.So, which sports are most effective for increasing the height of children and adolescents? The most effective exercises include the parallel bars, jumping, swimming, rings, gymnastics, basketball, and pull-ups. Jumping stretches muscles and ligaments, stimulating bone and cartilage growth; swimming provides full-body stretching and exercise; and pull-ups stretch the spine, promoting the growth of vertebrae, thereby helping children and adolescents grow taller continuously.