Orthopedist Andrei Litvinenko has recommended using a horizontal bar as an effective way to increase human height without undergoing surgical operations.
Speaking in an interview with the Russian news publication Argumenty i Fakty, Litvinenko explained that gravity continuously exerts downward pressure on the human spine throughout the day. This natural force compresses the spinal column and gradually reduces the physical distance between individual vertebrae.
As a direct result of this daily gravitational strain, a person can lose two to three centimetres in height by the evening. Litvinenko stated that physical traction can fully restore the spinal column to its natural length without requiring any surgical intervention.
Restoring natural spinal height
Litvinenko noted that hanging from a horizontal bar is the simplest and most accessible method of performing spinal traction. During this exercise, the vertebrae stop pressing against one another, allowing the space between them to increase back to its natural separation.
The human spinal column consists of 33 individual bones known as vertebrae, separated by cushion-like intervertebral discs made of cartilage. Throughout routine daily activities such as standing, walking, and sitting, gravitational pressure squeezes fluid from these flexible discs, causing a temporary reduction in overall height. Spinal traction is a well established procedure in physical therapy that decompresses intervertebral spaces by gently stretching the spinal column.
Advice on child posture and vision
The recommendation on spinal stretching follows earlier advice published by pediatric orthopedist Nikolai Batsalenko concerning child posture and vision care. Batsalenko outlined practical rules designed to safeguard the healthy spinal alignment and eyesight of growing children.
Batsalenko advised parents to adjust a child's desk and workspace to match their physical height. He also recommended that children take a brief break to rest their eyes every 20 minutes while studying or working at a desk.
Proper ergonomic workstation alignment helps maintain healthy spinal curvature and prevents musculoskeletal disorders during childhood development. Medical experts frequently recommend the 20-minute visual rest rule to prevent digital eye strain, muscle fatigue, and focus deterioration during prolonged reading or screen use.
Argumenty i Fakty is a major weekly newspaper based in Moscow that regularly features health advice and practical lifestyle recommendations from certified medical experts.
