The question of when physical growth concludes centers on the maturation of the human skeleton. This adolescent growth process is driven by hormonal signals, ultimately leading to the fusion of growth plates, known scientifically as the epiphyses. Once these cartilage structures at the ends of long bones have fully ossified into solid bone, further increase in height ceases permanently. Determining this endpoint can be approached through personal observation, the completion of secondary sex characteristics, and definitive medical imaging.
Tracking Height Stability
The most practical method for identifying the end of the growth phase is consistently monitoring height over time. This self-assessment requires accuracy and a structured approach to yield meaningful data.
To measure height accurately at home, stand barefoot with your back against a solid wall that has no baseboards. Ensure the heels, buttocks, shoulders, and back of the head are all touching the surface.
Hold the head level, with eyes looking straight ahead so the line of sight is parallel to the floor. Place a flat, square object, such as a ruler or a hardcover book, on the top of the head. Lower the object until it touches the wall, keeping it perpendicular to the surface.
Mark the wall where the bottom of the object rests, and measure the distance from the floor using a metal tape measure. For useful data, measurements should be taken at the same time of day, ideally in the morning, as the spine slightly compresses throughout the day. Tracking stability usually requires measurements every three to six months. If no measurable increase is recorded over a six-month to one-year period, it strongly suggests that the major growth spurt has concluded.
Key Indicators of Pubertal Completion
Physical markers related to sexual maturity often align with the final stages of skeletal development, providing evidence that growth is nearing its end. Puberty, which involves secondary sex characteristics, typically concludes between the ages of 15 and 17 for females and 16 and 17 for males, though individual variation is wide.
For females, a major turning point is the onset of menstruation (menarche), which generally occurs about two years after breast development begins. After this event, most individuals only grow an additional one or two inches before growth stops. The establishment of a regular menstrual cycle often signals that the hormonal changes driving skeletal maturation are stabilizing.
In males, the completion of puberty is marked by the full development of facial hair, the final deepening of the voice, and the spread of pubic hair to the inner thighs. The male growth spurt typically begins later, lasts longer, and finishes when the individual is older than females. While these physical changes indicate that the growth plates are closing, they are not a substitute for direct measurement or medical confirmation.
Medical Methods for Assessing Skeletal Maturity
The only definitive way to determine if growth has ceased is through a medical assessment of skeletal maturity, which evaluates the status of the growth plates. This assessment is typically performed using an X-ray of the non-dominant hand and wrist. The hand and wrist are used because they contain numerous bones that develop in a predictable sequence, making them an excellent proxy for the skeletal maturity of the entire body.
A radiologist compares the patient’s X-ray to standardized images found in a reference tool known as a bone age atlas. The most commonly used manual reference is the Greulich and Pyle (GP) Atlas, which contains X-ray images of the hands and wrists of children at different ages. By comparing the patient’s X-ray to the images, a healthcare provider assigns a “bone age” that reflects the degree of ossification in the carpals, metacarpals, and phalanges.
The growth plates (epiphyses) appear as dark lines of cartilage on the X-ray. When they are fully fused to the shaft of the bone, they are no longer visible as separate lines, indicating that growth is complete. This procedure is typically ordered when there are concerns about delayed or early puberty, or when a precise prediction of final adult height is needed. Once the X-ray confirms full epiphyseal fusion, the conclusion of longitudinal growth is medically established.