It's possible, but not guaranteed, that your hands will continue to grow after the age of 17.
While major growth spurts typically occur during puberty, which usually ends around the mid-teens, hand size (like overall height and other body parts) can sometimes continue to develop into early adulthood. Genetics play the most significant role in determining your hand size.
Here's a breakdown:
- Genetics: Your genes are the primary factor determining hand size. If your parents or other close relatives have large hands, you're more likely to have larger hands, too.
- Growth Plates: Growth in the hands (and the rest of the body) occurs at growth plates. These plates typically fuse in late adolescence or early adulthood, at which point bone growth stops. However, the timing of this fusion varies from person to person.
- Individual Variation: Everyone develops at their own pace. Some individuals might experience slight hand growth after 17, while others might not.
Factors to Consider:
- Have you stopped growing taller? If you've stopped growing taller, it's less likely that your hands will grow significantly.
- Family history: Do other members of your family experience growth later into their late teens/early twenties?
Ultimately, there's no definitive way to predict whether your hands will grow after 17. However, understanding the role of genetics and growth plates can provide a better understanding of the factors involved.
