It is normal to lose a little bit of height as we age -- compression of the cartilage between the bones can reduce an individual's height by a few centimeters over time. People who develop unexplained back pain, stooped posture, or lose an inch or more in height have likely developed osteoporosis. This drop in height is actually attributed to a series of small fractures in the spine, resulting in curvature and pain. The aging spine beings to collapse due to the loss of bone density.

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