One of the biggest myths about weight lifting is that it stunts your growth. No studies have ever been shown that lifting weights stunts or inhibits growth.
The fact that body-building stunts growth--or worse, actively makes you shorter--is a myth. It likely grew out of the fact that over-aggressive weight-lifting can cause injury to the ephiphyseal (i.e., "growth") plates in those who have not finished growing. But injuring a growth plate doesn't actually stop that bone from growing, it simply creates a usually small anomaly in the bone just like any other bone injury.
All of these activities require heavy muscular effort, but DO NOT STUNT GROWTH. As a matter of fact, kids in elementary school cansafely and effectively lift weights to promote health and build strength. Yes, it's downright good for them! ... So stop worrying about stunting your child's growth. Weight lifting never decrease your height or any growth ,it is your genetics and your poor diet that stop your growth.
If you really are getting shorter, that is the result of something else which could be related to weight-lifting or not. People do get shorter as they age as a result of loss of cartilage in the spinal discs, relaxation of the foot-arch ligaments, and consequent posture changes.
