Previously, I posted x-rays of my hands. I loaded with LSJL clamping the three joints of the right index finger. The two more distal joints I loaded laterally whereas the more proximal joint I loaded overhead ad the other fingers were in the way. I also loaded the two joints of the thumb. Michael came to the conclusion that the proximal bone had grown but the two more distal bones had not. My measurements support this conclusion and I’m going to talk about the ramifications of this as well. If you can please look at the x-ray post and see if you can validate the measurements.
Previously, at times I was clamping twice a day. I have since gone to once a day as that was not enough time for the soft tissues to recover and the second clamp tended to be effective. It was nice having a second chance to clamp if I didn’t feel it was effective but the second daily clamp was always worse than the first. I just try to make each clamp count and if I don’t feel the clamp is effective I start over.
To measure I used the GIMP software tool. I used grid lines and made my own using the control key at the absolute top and bottom of each bone. I used the control key to force a straight line. Doing the lateral view was harder so there may be more measurement error there.
Even though measurements are in inches they are not representative of my actual hand as the x-ray images are not as big as my hand.
Overhead view:
Right distal phalanx-0.53in
Right middle phalanx 0.78in
Right proximal phalanx-1.36in
left distal phalanx-0.52 in
left middle phalanx-0.79 in
left proximal phalanx-1.34in
Lateral View
Right distal phalanx-0.67in
right middle phalanx-1.00in
right proximal phalanx-1.66in
Left distal phalanx-0.67in
left middle phalanx-1.00in
left proximal phalanx-1.61in
Since there is more measurement error with the lateral view. We’ll rely only on the overhead view. That’s an increase of 1.5% in finger length. A commentator named Alex got a lot smaller percentage increase but was not available to follow up. To give you an idea a 1.5% increase at 72 inches of height gives you an additional inch of height. I believed that all three bones had grown. But perhaps it was just the ganglion cysts giving the illusion of growth.
Thumb
Right distal-0.67in
Right proximal-1.06in
Left distal-0.66in
Left proximal-1.10in
Again, only the proximal bone had grown(I loaded the left thumb with LSJL and the right was unloaded).
Why this could be. Well:
One possibility is that the the joint at the proximal end of the proximal phalanx is more mobile. For example try pulling your finger like so:
You can create quite a lot of separation in the joint. Same with the wrist which is a part of my arms which have also grown(from about 72.5-74.4″). I’m not sure what the cause is for the wingspan increase but the mobility of that wrist joint may be a key.
We need to learn more about the properties of these joints and what other joints of the body are of this type. This is just a theory but it would explain why only the proximal joint has grown.
I vaugely remember reading something about supplementation to make the bone easier to mold on this site. Also something on running with ankle weights tearing bone thus making it softer.
Perhaps a similar combination could be effective?
When you measure your index finger with the ruler, you say there´s like between 1/4 and 3/8 of an inch of growth. However, the x rays show that this difference is much smaller. What do you think is the reason?
I remember you said that the osteophytes may cause the finger to seem bigger when compared with the left index. However, that´s not a plausible reason for lenght increase seen by naked eye.
Why there is such a difference between the x rays and the measurements taken with the ruler?
Well one thing is that the left finger is less titled than the right finger by about 10ish degrees. And the shortest distance between two objects is a straight line. My measurements didn’t take this into account initially. Just measuring the peak point of each bone so the actual difference should be larger. If Michael or someone else does a more indepth measurement we can know for the exact quantity. But the fact that the most proximal index finger bone is longer even with measurement error(that when adjusted for will mean that the right finger will be even longer than the left) is a great sign.
Also, the hand image is not the same size as my actual hand so any difference is multipled.