How much of an impact can height have on strength and size?

D

DanHarris

0
Hi,

I was just wondering how much of an impact can you height have on how far you can progress in terms of strength and size. For example I am a tiny 5'6", would I struggle to be as strong as somebody who is 6ft tall and doesn't even have that good of a diet and workout even if I work my ass off, eat well and lift big??

Just wondering what sort of impacts it can have on how far I will be able to progress compared to the more average guys at about 5'11" to 6'2". I don't find being quite short a problem in life atall so far...and don't see why I will find it a problem but I AM interested in how much it could limit my progress.

Do shorter people have the same potential for muscle building as those who are taller? I would say I am equally interested in how it can effect both:

A) Strength
B) Size (I.E Muscle Mass, how impressive somebodys arms, legs, chest have the poential to look)
 
DanHarris said:
Hi,

I was just wondering how much of an impact can you height have on how far you can progress in terms of strength and size. For example I am a tiny 5'6", would I struggle to be as strong as somebody who is 6ft tall and doesn't even have that good of a diet and workout even if I work my ass off, eat well and lift big??

Just wondering what sort of impacts it can have on how far I will be able to progress compared to the more average guys at about 5'11" to 6'2". I don't find being quite short a problem in life atall so far...and don't see why I will find it a problem but I AM interested in how much it could limit my progress.

Do shorter people have the same potential for muscle building as those who are taller? I would say I am equally interested in how it can effect both:

A) Strength
B) Size (I.E Muscle Mass, how impressive somebodys arms, legs, chest have the poential to look)
Click to expand...

I think body type is the biggest factor in what you are asking. Endomorph, Ectomorph and Mesomorph. These are the different body types that have a bigger factor in size. Strengh wise, the men who have held bench press records are usually not tall lean guys. They tend to be average to short and almost always have short arms (short wingspans).
 
People with longer arms are disadvantaged in bench press for leverage reasons I believe.

I've seen strong buff people both tall and short. Height specifically does not particularly matter. Length of limbs can provide certain mechanical advantages in some lifts because of leverage but height itself won't inhibit or increase your ability to gain muscle.
 
Dan, you have a lot of "hypothetical" questions about genetics. Let's put it this way: you're going to be good regardless if you work hard and smart.

Franco Columbu was a lot shorter than Arnold, but still had a really impressive physique. Big, huge olympic lifters lift more than their smaller teammates. Of course, if you refer to proportional strength as opposed to absolute, things might be different. Everything is relative.

If everything is in working order, then that is not considered a poor genetics card. If you work hard and smart it doesn't really matter how short you are. At this point you probably aren't close to reaching your potential so it doesn't really matter. If you reach your potential and end up like Franco, you'll probably get the win knocked from under you by a 6 foot Austrian stud who simply overshadows you.

And everyone is different anyway. I'm sure you know tall stalks of men as well as tall big dudes. Not only is there a difference in body type, but everyone's got a different balance of hormones, organ function, etc.
 
LeiYun. I agree with what you're saying about working hard, but let's not forget that Arnold and Franco were pumped full of juice.

Dave: You're right, shorter people have less distance to travel when performing most exercises, this can have an impact on muscle growth.

Street: I'm in absolute agreement with you. If a person is an easy gainer, no matter tall or short, then he'll put on size.

Last, Dan: Just like everyone has already said, work hard and you'll get the results you're looking for. Don't compare yourself to the guy training next to you, compare yourself to the guy who was you yesterday.
 
Street Workout said:
I think body type is the biggest factor in what you are asking. Endomorph, Ectomorph and Mesomorph.
Click to expand...

These are great excuses for people who don't eat or train right. All of these body types can get great results, it's that some people need to train in different ways.

To the OP, if you work hard, eat well and lift big you'll get big. Try not to worry too much about what the guy next to you is lifting
 
Taller people tend to be better pullers, shorter people tend to be better squatters and pressers.

Though the pressing depends a lot upon the length of arms compared to the boday. People with shorter arms tend to be better pressers.

Same with squat. Shorter legs tend to have a bigger squat. Longer, not so much.

(this is comparing lifters, not untrained people)

I think body type is the biggest factor in what you are asking. Endomorph, Ectomorph and Mesomorph.
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The body type is lame. Why do I say this? I have been a 100lb ectomorph. (This is what I was when I started Training) Became a 200lb - 250 lb mesomorph. The I was a 320lb endomorph. Then I trained back to being a 200lbs mesomorph. Now I am a 270lb Meso / Endo.

The body type can be changed. I have seen it happen to a lot of "ectomorphs." It really has to do with how disciplined (and smart) you are with training and nutrition.

I've seen strong buff people both tall and short. Height specifically does not particularly matter. Length of limbs can provide certain mechanical advantages in some lifts because of leverage but height itself won't inhibit or increase your ability to gain muscle.
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That is the truest answer to the height question.
 
Dunno what that song is Tanizaki but do you ever actually try to be helpful? This is the cheese thread some guy started a while ago all over again. At least your style of posting is consistent in all of the threads you contribute to.

I am not saying you do not have the knowledge...just that you don't seem to use it to help others very often. So far I have established that Tanizaki does not like people who are either:

A) Short

B) Can't afford to import cheese from France because they are 'too poor'

**Waits for Tanizaki to pick at grammar and/or netiquette**

;)
 
DanHarris said:
Dunno what that song is Tanizaki but do you ever actually try to be helpful? This is the cheese thread some guy started a while ago all over again. At least your style of posting is consistent in all of the threads you contribute to.

I am not saying you do not have the knowledge...just that you don't seem to use it to help others very often. So far I have established that Tanizaki does not like people who are either:

A) Short

B) Can't afford to import cheese from France because they are 'too poor'

**Waits for Tanizaki to pick at grammar and/or netiquette**

;)
Click to expand...

Someone else joined in as well, so at least someone realized the humor. You don't have to be serious all the time, especially at your young age.
 
Tanizaki said:
Someone else joined in as well, so at least someone realized the humor. You don't have to be serious all the time, especially at your young age.
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It doesn't really bother me too much personally...being a short person hasn't had any bad effects on my life to be honest....But it could offend some people who are not very tall...It is like calling somebody overweight a fat bastard...It could not bother some of them but could really offend another person...Would you ever call somebody a fat bastard and laugh at them? I wouldn't personally...

I'm deffo not a very serious person, but I am just thinking of others a bit really because it is the same as the fat example I gave really...If you would call somebody that or sing a song about them then don't take any notice of my momentary moaning at you dude lol.
 
hahaha i heard that song before...i never knew it was to mock prejudice though
 
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