Weekend Challenge: The Height Preserver

Vivian Goldschmidt, MA Exercise

Evidence-Based
4 min Read
weekend challenge

I’ve been practicing the Height Preserver for the past year, and I notice a great improvement in my posture. In fact, I feel great after each time I do it, so I’m really thrilled to share it with you today.

It’s an “active decompression” exercise, because its primary functions are to stretch the spine and separate the vertebrae, which helps to keep them aligned. This is the key to preventing height loss and reducing back pain.

In addition to flattening the back, the Height Preserver strengthens the thigh muscles, particularly the quadriceps. It also helps align and stretch the shoulders.

Why: The spine and shoulders are essential components to correct posture. Proper posture, in turn, is crucial to standing at your full height and preventing kyphosis (Dowager’s Hump).

Active Decompression Counteracts The Effects Of Age And Gravity

Spinal decompression is a specific type of exercise that spreads the vertebrae out to counteract the effects of gravity. Unlike most other mammals, human beings walk upright on two legs, so our spines undergo a unique kind of stress.

Over time, the spongey, shock-absorbing discs between the vertebrae begin to thin and deteriorate. This is usually blamed on age, but it’s largely due to lack of exercise, poor nutrition, and/or excessive heavy lifting.

While age does have something to do with disc degeneration, it simply means that as you get older, you need to be more deliberate about preserving and building this vital tissue.

Disc Degeneration Results In Height Loss And A Hunch-Backed Appearance

It’s not uncommon to lose several inches in height if your vertebrae are pressing together due to thin or compressed discs or due to osteoporotic spinal compression fractures.

Periodic spinal decompression restores the space between the vertebrae, allowing your discs to rebuild and preventing loss of height and kyphosis.

In addition, the Height Preserver relieves lower back pain that’s often caused by compressed vertebrae.

Check with your healthcare provider before you practice this exercise if you’re prone to vertebral stress fractures or are currently recovering from vertebral stress fractures.

How: You’ll need to be near a door or tall stable cabinet – something with a ledge over your head that you can get our fingers over.

height preserver

  1. Stand facing the door or cabinet, feet shoulder-width apart.
  2. Reach up and place your hands over the top of the door.
  3. Slowly bend your knees down into a squat, as you feel a gentle stretch along your spine and in your shoulders.
  4. Hold for 20 to 90 seconds (or as long as you comfortably can), then go back up into a standing position and relax for a few minutes.
  5. Repeat three times. You can practice this exercise multiple times a day.

Gravity: Friend And Foe

As I mentioned above, gravity’s slow downward pull compresses the vertebrae over time, and this can cause disc degeneration and height loss – especially when you do not use your back to perform bone-building exercises that keep it strong and supple.

If you’re familiar with the Densercise™ Epidensity Training System, then you know that the action of gravity and muscle on bone stimulates bone growth. That’s why weight-bearing exercises are so important for building youthful bone density. These two opposing aspects of the earth’s pull create a “gravity paradox.”

Densercise™ covers both aspects of gravity in the wide variety of moves it offers. You’ll find exercises that make full use of the action of gravity on bone, such as Marching Jacks and the Side Lunge. But you’ll also find exercises that counteract the damaging effects of gravity, such as the Arm & Leg Lift, Super Woman, Flying Snow Angels, and many more.

Please take a minute to explore more about Densercise™ by clicking here. It’s completely risk-free – if you’re not satisfied with this revolutionary exercise system for any reason, simply request a refund within 60 days.

Stand tall!

vivian sig