Thread: the body and gravity

would have to think that just simply being a life form that is mobile gravity wouldn't have the power to effect growth in that manner. even plants that are not mobile are not effected by gravity that much since we see them stretch and grow towards light sources all the time

Originally Posted by LAM

would have to think that just simply being a life form that is mobile gravity wouldn't have the power to effect growth in that manner. even plants that are not mobile are not effected by gravity that much since we see them stretch and grow towards light sources all the time

They are affected by it quite a bit.

That said, I don't believe animals have shown any gravitropism.

Who the hell knows?... try seeing if NASA has anything published on the topic.

gravity has no effect on genetics....if this were the case there would have been a gradual change in our muscular structure over the last few centuries and that clearly hasnt happened....just my 2cents.

If you look at an older person and their posture as well as their shortened height, over the long term, gravity does have an effect on the body. But the effecting the direction muscles grow is a bit far fetched.

Thank you all for your input!

Well it does affect bone density. I remember reading that astronauts that spend a lot of time in space (i.e. months) have lower bone density or something and they need to be careful once back on Earth. Have a modified diet or something

I imagine there's some kind of effect but it's probably pretty subtle. Since our body changes orientation through space, my guess is there are mechanisms in place to make sure things grow in an optimal and balanced way and repair/defend against such things.

I'm not sure specifically what you're worried about, like the difference between sleeping on your back/side/front, or whether you're horizantal or maybe sleeping on an incline like some old folks do?

Or perhaps sleeping upside down like Michael Keaton in Batman? Gravity boots are pretty cool...

Old people stooping, I wonder if they could fix that with some traction like dips and chinups or inversion table.

Originally Posted by tyciol

I imagine there's some kind of effect but it's probably pretty subtle. Since our body changes orientation through space, my guess is there are mechanisms in place to make sure things grow in an optimal and balanced way and repair/defend against such things.

I'm not sure specifically what you're worried about, like the difference between sleeping on your back/side/front, or whether you're horizantal or maybe sleeping on an incline like some old folks do?

Or perhaps sleeping upside down like Michael Keaton in Batman? Gravity boots are pretty cool...

Old people stooping, I wonder if they could fix that with some traction like dips and chinups or inversion table.

Well... I feel like I have this phobia that the downward force of gravity is like pulling down on the fibers as they grow and preventing/hindering my muscles from being able to develope their most roundness,fullness,shapeliness, as they're growing.
Any words of wisdom to help clear my head?

I'm thinking you have some SERIOUS control issues LOL how about whatever shape your body grows into IS the perfect exact shape its supposed to be ? instead of what you in vision as 'perfect'

Originally Posted by tgw85

Well... I feel like I have this phobia that the downward force of gravity is like pulling down on the fibers as they grow and preventing/hindering my muscles from being able to develope their most roundness,fullness,shapeliness, as they're growing.
Any words of wisdom to help clear my head?

Here's a silly example, if you exercise flat bench but lived upside down would you develope more upper chest then compared to normal? lol!?

Oh and I know I'm probably going to get smacked for this, but are you guys sure Arnies very lower pecs did not get thinner as his chest grew and got longer/lower and not that I'm obscessed with Arnold, I just use him as an example... it really bothers me to think once your chest grows to the point the bottom overhangs slightly past the origin (while relaxed/uncontracted) that then gravity would make your lower pecs get thinner or lose depth as they grew and got longer. Please please help, or ask me for more info if you need clearification... I love bodybuilding and I'm not trying to make ppl mad, I'm just confused and paranoid and it's distracting me from college.

Here's a pic to show what I mean: the bottom of his chest overhangs slightly when relaxed and not flexing... now if you keep training and growing and then you looked at it again, same stance and relaxed, I would expect the bottom to be a little lower b/c it gained more mass and weight, but would it then be thinner? As it grew and got longer/lower does gravity pull on the fibers in such a way that makes the bottom get thinner?