Ok here’s a theory just for the fun of it, this is speculation based on the idea that osmosis can occur through the skin ( I can’t find solid evidence either way )
If osmosis could occur what effect would soaking in a high sugar concentration have ?
It would draw water out of the body, how would that help ?
The water in connective tissue is one reason it resists stretching, as CT is stretched water is slowly forced out of the cells allowing it to elongate . Like stretching a water balloon with a hole in it as water is expelled the balloon can be stretched further.
Water returning to the cells is part of the process of the CT returning to its normal length.
So in theory something which draws water out of connective tissue as it is stretched could speed up the process.
Is that what’s happening here ? like I said just speculation :)