[Iguana]

Originally Posted by remek

Warming down never made physical sense to me. Why heat the penis and make it more elastic after you already stretched it?

Very true! That makes me think about something I read in an article. It said connective tissue (mainly collagen) became gel-like at 140 degrees. So, heat softens the tissue and changes it to more of a "liquid", or pliable state. It only makes sense that to keep it that way, you would want to cool it in the new extended state to return it back to a more solid material. Like heating a piece of plastic, remolding it to a new shape, and then letting it cool.


More support for cooling down in an extended state:


" Other studies dealt with the subsequent elasticity of the connective tissue, i.e., ligaments and tendons, after the application of ice. Doctor Mennell5 felt that this was due to the decreased sensation, which enabled the patient to stretch out muscle spasm. Others felt that stretching was best achieved in the "cooling stage" after "heating" by use of hot packs, massage, or ultrasound. Therefore, for best results, stretching of the part should be maintained while cooling the tendon. This was found to produce a longer-lasting increase in length than those treatments in which the stretch was stopped after heat was applied.3

Cold Therapy versus Heat

Notice that ice was applied for cooling. Hmmmm...