A new study conducted by scientists at The University of Wisconsin suggests that 90 percent of bone growth happens at night.
According to BBC, the researchers led by Dr
Norman Wilsman put sensors into the leg bones of baby lambs and
confirmed that most growth spurts occurred when the animals were at
rest or sleeping. Almost no growth occurs when the lambs are
standing or moving around. Bone length was continuously measured by
the sensors every 167 seconds for around three weeks. "What was really
interesting was that the bones were
growing only when the animals were
lying down, and almost no growth occurs when the lambs are standing or
moving around," Wils man was quoted as saying. The researchers believe that when the
animal is at rest, pressure on the bones involved with growth - the
growth plates - is eased, allowing them to elongate. "Growth plates may
be like springs that, during standing and walking, experience
compression and tension. When these strains are eased, as when the
animal lies down or goes to sleep, they resume growing," Wilsman added.