Originally Posted by marinera
The link doesn’t work to me.
Here is an update of the study. What concerns us is on page 13. (I translate the extract the best I can).
http://prevost. pascal.free.fr/ … f/Souplesse.pdf
"Do stretching when the stiffness is maximum
The stiffness is higher before or after exercise than during it. Now, for that flexibility exercises have a lasting effect, they must be able to act directly on the structures responsible for maintaining liability bone pieces and elastic structures of the muscle. Therefore, the best time to practice flexibility is when the stiffness is higher because a lower tension is needed for a same effect. That time is before or at least 15-20 minutes after the end of the workout, when the stiffness increase again."
"Do stretching when the temperature muscle or body, is minimal
Tissues are more extensible at high temperature (Lehmann and coll. 1970 ; Mutungi and Ramatunga, 1996 ; Nooman and coll., 1993 ; Safran and coll., 1988 ; Warren and Lehmann 1976 ; Woo and coll. 1987). Similarly, it was shown that the articular amplitude increase after heating (Henricson and coll., 1984 ; Stewart and coll. 1998 ; Taylor and coll., 1995 ; Wiktorsson and coll. 1983). A stretch made under such conditions is certainly important but temporary. On the other hand, this deformation is more durable if the tissue is "cold" because the affected tissue reach more quickly the upper limit of phase II when it is "cold" than when it is "hot", for the same tension level (Sapega and al., 1981). For this reason, it seems that it is easier to practice flexibility after a workout than in the morning upon waking. But if we really want to make a significant impact, stretching should be done far from physical exercise, to take advantage of lower temperature and of increase in stiffness ; these two phenomenas will allow to obtain results more quickly from the same degree of elongation."