Hitesh Chauhan
July 17, 2025

When it comes to increasing height, we often look for quick solutions or the next viral trend that promises miraculous results. Recently, the “kicking method” has been making waves across Instagram and YouTube, with people claiming it helps with height growth. But how much truth is there behind this claim? Can kicking actually make you taller? Let’s dive in and explore the science, the effectiveness of the kicking method, and how it stacks up against other popular techniques.
The kicking method is a viral trend where individuals perform a specific series of leg movements, often involving high kicks, leg shaking, or rapid leg stretches. These movements are intended to target the legs, spine, and muscles, with the belief that they help stretch and elongate the body. Social media influencers and fitness enthusiasts swear by it, claiming it can increase height by promoting spinal decompression and muscle stretching.
For example-This Instagram account suggests that one can achieve a 1 cm increase in height by the kicking method. But does it actually work? The short answer is not quite how you might expect. While the kicking method may have some benefits, it is unlikely to lead to any dramatic increase in height, especially for those who have already passed their growth years.

The first thing to understand is that your height is primarily determined by genetics. About 80% of your final height comes from the genes you inherit from your parents. The remaining 20% is influenced by factors such as nutrition, sleep, and physical activity. Growth plates, or epiphyseal plates, in your long bones fuse after puberty, meaning that after a certain age (usually around 18-25), it’s no longer possible for your bones to grow longer.
So, can kicking help with height growth post-puberty? Kicking exercises may strengthen the legs, increase jump heights, and thereby indirectly contribute to perceived height. However, the kicks do not directly increase height. A person’s height is primarily determined by their genetics, and secondarily, by nutrition and exercise during growth, according to KidsHealth. After puberty, it is highly challenging to increase height through any scientifically proven method, and not by just exercises for height growth, especially kicking method.
Watch this YouTube Video Dr Rupal Rana Aaryaa – Consulting Physician, MBBS (Mumbai) DCH (London) MCGP MGPA (GB) talk about height growth and does kicking really work?

Spinal decompression is the concept that stretches and certain activities can “uncompress” your spine on a temporary scale. All bodies undergo this compression process throughout life, whether it be from the effects of gravity or poor posture, which can cause us to lose small amounts of height. But some activities offer light stretching and elongation of the spine, like yoga or hanging, where you provide a slight pull on your spine, and could help you recover at least some of your lost height or vertical length.
The kicking method could provide temporary decompression benefits, especially when combined with other spinal motion or stretching exercises, which open up your back. But again, falling victim to unrealistic ideals here, most of these elongations in height will not be permanent changes, just the temporary perception of additional height because of the elongation of your spinal components.
If you are relying solely on kicking, you may not see substantial height gains, but incorporating leg stretches can improve your posture and flexibility. These exercises are focused on getting your hamstrings, hips, and lower back musculature in a standard length, which eventually would be a factor for your “taller” visual by aligning and making your body more flexible.


When comparing different methods of gaining height, the use of the kicking method and yoga are the two most popular. Yoga, for most people, is more efficient because it is a system that integrates several different physical and philosophical practices.
While the practice of the kicking method can be good for flexibility and muscle stretching, yoga is a more thorough method of enhancing one’s height.
Key Differences Between the Kicking Method and Yoga:The viral kicking method may seem like a quick fix to gaining height, but the science behind it is more about improving posture and flexibility than actual bone growth. While it may temporarily decompress your spine and help you stand taller, it’s not a permanent solution for height growth. For more lasting results, a combination of leg stretches, yoga, and proper posture maintenance is key. Additionally, you can go for natural height growth supplements to add few inches in your stature.