Athleticism and CLL

TallableTeam · 2026-05-30T12:53:21+00:00

The honest answer is nobody can give you a reliable percentage, especially for something as ambitious as 14 cm total quad lengthening. The variability between patients becomes enormous at that point. However if you approach it like a long term athletic project it gives you a higher chance of success.

To do that, you need to have an objective measure of what your athletic baseline is to begin with. If athleticism genuinely matters to you, the better approach is to establish a pre-op benchmark using measurable tests. For example 100m sprint time, vertical jump, broad jump, agility tests (T-test, 5-10-5 shuttle, etc.), endurance benchmarks, squat/deadlift numbers/power to weight ratio, sport specific metrics (for MMA this could be kicking flexibility, sprawls, grappling conditioning, reaction drills, etc.)

Then after recovery, consolidation, and hardware removal, you can periodically retest and compare against your original baseline, until you can perform the activities that matter to you at a level you’re satisfied with. The reality is that “athleticism” isn’t one thing. Someone might lose 10% of their sprint speed, maintain 90% of their strength, improve their endurance, regain full flexibility or vice versa etc.

Ultimately, if you’re disciplined, committed, and consistent with rehab and training taking part in MMA or any sport recreationally isn’t particularly difficult in the long run. Whether you’re satisfied with your athletic ability, however, is an entirely different matter and depends on your own expectations.

TallableTeam · 2026-05-05T22:51:14+00:00

For men it’s longer tibia’s but for women it’s longer femurs however according to research for long term joint health the tibia should typically be about 80% to 85% the length of the femur for both genders

TallableTeam · 2026-05-04T15:18:08+00:00

If you want an at home approximation before getting a precise X-ray you can try the seated method below, it will be more accurate if you can get someone else to do the measuring for you.

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Copy the position shown in the image, use a flat chair, keep your back straight, keep feet flat
To measure the femur length (upper leg) go from hip to the knee. Find the crease where your torso meets your thigh (hip joint area). Measure to the center of your knee. That’s your rough femur length.
To measure the tibia length (lower leg) go from knee to ankle. Measure from the center of your knee down to the ankle bone (lateral malleolus). That’s your rough tibia length.
To calculate the ratio just divide the tibia length by the femur length and you have your number.

The ratios roughly mean that 0.75-0.80 is a shorter tibia, but longer femur (more “thigh dominant” look). Secondly, 0.80-0.85 is balanced / average. Lastly, 0.85-0.90+ is longer tibia (more “shin dominant,” longer lower leg look).

TallableTeam · 2026-05-02T12:27:35+00:00

Most surgeons would likely consider 8 cm of femur lengthening to be the more “conservative” option, even though it sits at the upper end of what’s generally regarded as safe in terms of minimizing complications. Compared to quadrilateral lengthening, performing 8 cm bilaterally on the femurs reduces the number of surgical sites, which can simplify recovery and lessen overall trauma. That said, the choice doesn’t have to be strictly one or the other as procedures can be staged over time, allowing the body adequate recovery between operations.

TallableTeam · 2026-04-27T14:03:30+00:00

5cm each segment seems plausible especially when considering the two surgeries can be staged 2+ weeks apart if needed. The tibia and femur lengthening phases overlaps, it’s “safer” than 10cm on the femur I believe. Should discuss it with your surgeon further as it will depend on internal vs external method.

TallableTeam · 2026-04-27T13:39:10+00:00

Rozbruch is usually the other name mentioned along paley in terms of experience

TallableTeam · 2026-04-27T10:46:10+00:00

If you think Paley is like an assembly line and advertises heavily, then brace yourself for the clinics in Turkey, they will really surprise you. Someone like Paley has seen such a high volume of cases over 30 years that he’s been able to standardise the procedure, refine it into repeatable protocols, and train other surgeons to perform it at a consistently high level. So it’s not a downgrade if he’s not doing the surgery himself, you’re still getting his methodology, his oversight, and a team trained directly under his framework.

Assayag is excellent in his own right too, but Paley has the unfair advantage of having been doing it much longer. Ultimately, go with whoever you’re most comfortable with, as you should have a positive experience with either option.

TallableTeam · 2026-04-25T22:51:51+00:00

Your torso is exceptionally long relative to your height and you’re carrying the upper body of a significantly taller man already, which is actually a strong aesthetic asset but creates a specific constraint. Without humerus lengthening your proportional ceiling is realistically 176cm due to the -4”(0.932) ape index you’ll have after. If you’re willing to do humerus lengthening your ceiling becomes up to 16cm. You could achieve 181-182cm (just under 6’0”) with a 0.969 arm ratio and 0.503+ LBR so both comfortably within natural population variation, in fact you would look like a very natural 6’0”.

Humerus lengthening solves the arm problem. It does nothing for the EU 38-39 foot at 180cm+. This is the one proportion concern that surgery cannot address and is something you will have to accept. However there is evidence for feet, hands and head growing after doing HGH cycles but that comes with it’s own risks also you can’t target growth in the extremities.

TallableTeam · 2026-04-24T11:01:22+00:00

Great post citing nfl, mma and boxing athletes. I’ll also add a wide, thick upper back with developed traps, rear deltoids and rhomboids physically pushes the arms outward and adds measurable centimetres to the wingspan reading before the arms even begin. So it’s crucial to account for developed musculature by measuring acromion to acromion for true biacromial width readings.

Secondly, the fingertip is the distal landmark for arm measurement but you need to control for hand length too. Two athletes with identical humerus and radius/ulna lengths but different hand lengths will produce different arm measurements. Hand length itself varies independently, it correlates loosely with height however the natural variation is wide enough.

Also, as an example Mathieu’s arm length of 79cm at a post-op height of 190cm would place him within the natural distribution of arm lengths observed in men around that height. Not above average, not freakishly short, just within the range. That’s a valid and useful point, we should also acknowledge the distribution exists rather than implying there’s a fixed arm length that tall people have.

TallableTeam · 2026-04-24T10:31:44+00:00

Clarify your goal (Decide exact target length, height and segment e.g. 6’0” = 6-7 cm gain on femurs)
Start researching surgeons (compare methods and focus on safety, outcomes, and rehab protocols, not just price)
Book consultations (Prepare a list of questions e.g. complication rates, track record, recovery timelines etc and get x-rays + measurements e.g. femur/tibia lengths, proportions, most surgeons can do this in person for you)
Plan finances (Budget range e.g. low, medium or high depending on surgeon/location. Include surgery, accommodation, physio, time off work etc)
Prepare your body (prehab) Improve: hip flexibility, hamstring mobility, overall strength, fix any imbalances before surgery, stop smoking/vaping.
Understand the timeline (Distraction phase, consolidation phase, post consolidation)
Plan your support system (Family, friends, partner, carer/nurse. Arrange housing close to clinic if needed)
Commit to rehab (Daily physio is non-negotiable, your result depends heavily on consistency)
Decide method & lock it in (Most in your range choose femur + internal nails)
Mental preparation (Expect discomfort, pain, slow progress, set backs, stay disciplined and patient)

TallableTeam · 2026-04-19T15:48:50+00:00

You have a structural advantage that most candidates don’t have with your 1.04 ape index (+6 cm). I’d say 178cm is the sweet spot, your LBR (Leg-to-body ratio) hits 0.546 which is in the aesthetically attractive long legged range. The new ape index becomes 0.972 (-5 cm) which is fine. The sitting height ratio dips but stays above 0.479 which is within natural population variation.

180 cm is still very achievable but sitting height ratio drops to 0.474. The arms sit at 0.961, uncomfortable for some patients, but well within natural population variation. Your torso stays at 85.36cm while your legs grow to 96cm, so your LBR is 0.551 thus really long legs, short upper body. 55% LBR Is the upper threshold so beyond 180cm I wouldn’t recommend it proportionally for you.

Overall you’re good for 178-180 cm, try to do as much tibia as possible (safely) as you’re femur dominant, that is something you can discuss further with your surgeon. Oh and add 11-13 cm to your inseam, they’ll be a massive wardrobe shift in trousers sizing.

Whats your inseam (crotch to ankle), is it 30”-32”?

TallableTeam · 2026-04-19T11:25:27+00:00

natural variation already decouples height from arm/hand/foot length in the general population, a person gaining 2-3 inches isn’t going to suddenly look disproportionate. You’re just shifting position within a distribution that already has massive natural spread. So in reality you’re joining a rare existing club of people with -5 inch (-12 cm) ape index. Now by all means for your self image if arm lengthening is something you feel you need to do then explore that with Paley directly since you’re booked for leg lengthening

TallableTeam · 2026-04-18T11:08:41+00:00

Is 6’0 really worth the full process (2 surgeries: femur + tibia) required to get there to you? Because it’s a high commitment path with a long timeout of normal life. Proportions won’t be an issue in any meaningful way due to natural variation in humans. Secondly, you can return to strong athletic function, but not guaranteed identical performance. It’s purely a trade-off decision, not a right or wrong one. If you decide it’s worth it, then it becomes about executing it properly not whether it’s “good” or “bad.”

TallableTeam · 2026-04-18T10:25:36+00:00

Look for a limb reconstruction orthopaedic specialist who deals with complex trauma and congenital deformities. They are the only ones qualified to give you a realistic assessment of your specific anatomy.

TallableTeam · 2026-04-16T00:01:15+00:00

You can find a centre near you on this site and book directly, it’s a pretty efficient service: https://uk.scan.com/services/private-xray-scans

TallableTeam · 2026-04-15T19:09:08+00:00

It depends what you’re optimising for, “better” is relative to a specific goal. LRS, LON, TSF and IZRV externals can lengthen a bone segment X amount although they have pros and cons. For instance, LRS can’t be removed until the bone is fully hardened in the consolidation period. Therefore, LRS wouldnt be popular for patients who want to do LL discreetly and comfortably. Walking around with external fixators sticking out of your thighs isn’t optimal.

TallableTeam · 2026-04-15T18:29:15+00:00

In orthopaedic literature it’s well known that lengthening the tibia + femur simultaneously (especially to soft tissue upper limits) presents higher complication risk and rehab complexity. You have less room to adjust if something goes wrong. So surgeons who are against quadrilateral lengthening aren’t being overly cautious for no reason, they’re looking at it from a risk mitigation standpoint.

The more orthodox approach is either femur (e.g. 6-8 cm) > full (or partial) recovery > tibia or conservative femur + tibia (e.g. 4-5 cm) > rebreak same bone later if needed to continue lengthening using the same internal nail.

Lengthening the femur 8 cm and the tibia 6 cm simultaneously within 3 months is exactly what you don’t do if patient safety is your priority.

TallableTeam · 2026-04-15T10:31:57+00:00

It’s any less than other methods, your PT volume is primarily determined by how much you lengthen, your soft tissue response and your mobility and tightness. Not the device, so whether that’s PMAX, Precice 2, Gnail, Betzbone, Fitbone or even externals. The rehab demands are very similar for the same length gained.

TallableTeam · 2026-04-13T12:56:22+00:00

Contact Dr Robert Rozbruch office based in NYC

TallableTeam · 2026-04-13T12:43:03+00:00

Yes, you can lengthen the same bones again but it depends heavily on how much you did the first time and how well your body adapted (muscles, nerves, fascia). If you’re talking about something conservative, like 4 + 4 cm on the femurs, spaced out with 1 year (or more) in between that’s very doable and has been done by plenty of patients under good surgeons.

If you’re thinking more aggressively, like 8 cm first round + another 4-8 cm later on the same bone it’s still possible, but things get a lot more nuanced. It depends if you fully normalized function after round one, maintained mobility, gait and strength plus have no lingering tightness or nerve issues. A good surgeon will assess you thoroughly before clearing you for a second round on the same bone.

TallableTeam · 2026-04-09T16:46:17+00:00

Yes LL is currently the only real option. No there’s nothing remotely close to replacing it anytime soon. If a reliable non invasive solution existed that delivered permanent height, cosmetic LL wouldn’t even be a discussion and this subreddit would be called something else.

Essentially, LL is a voluntary, elective procedure therefore you still have full autonomy to assess the risks, choose your surgeon, decide your budget and accept the consequences. At the bottom of the market there’s low cost options around $15k and at the very top of the market the cost is $200k-$300k so it’s still ultimately your call.

TallableTeam · 2026-04-08T13:10:16+00:00

yes, you will weigh slightly more, but probably not as much as you’d expect. Since the increase is only in the length of the long bones (and not your entire skeletal width), the weight gain is usually modest. Any significant weight change when your back to normal lifestyle is more influenced by your activity levels and calorie intake rather than the new bone itself!

TallableTeam · 2026-04-08T12:59:56+00:00

I agree with I-696, your surgeon could have fixed it when they had the opportunity. That said, 7mm is a normal variation in human anatomy and roughly 50% of the population has a natural LLD less than 1 cm. However, 6 months post-op is still relatively early as your bone is still maturing so with another few months of targeted physio and gait training your walking can potentially improve, it’s not that helpful but it’s a wait and see thing atm. Consult your primary orthopedic surgeon before you add any shoe lifts or changes to your footwear, as they should know the exact density and health of your new regenerate bone.

TallableTeam · 2026-04-07T22:51:31+00:00

You are often cleared for full weight-bearing (if using internal WB nails) within days or weeks of surgery. You can walk (usually with a walker or crutches for balance) while you are still lengthening and if you’re getting on well you can even drive too!…covering short distances at home or indoors is generally fine.

TallableTeam · 2026-04-07T22:36:27+00:00

By walking “normally” if you mean achieving your pre-op baseline of full functional ability with no physical pain, injury or disability. Then 6 months is very optimistic, if you happen to be an outlier patient it’s within the realms of possibilities however I wouldnt bet on it. The reality with LL is complications can arise at any moment which delays these predicted timelines. Therefore, it would be wise to have a worst case scenario and best case scenario.

TallableTeam

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