Optimal Stretching.

Optimal Stretching .
Andre Willers
6 Sep 2011

Synopsis:
Cold stretching can cause as much damage or decrease in performance as actual cold exertion .
Why ?

Discussion:
Briefly , endorphins release the muscle fibres from a locked , stasis state .
The mechanism derives from evolutionary states as described in Appendix A.
The lock-down can be released either by rage or endorphins .

Endorphins are preferable .
Note anecdotal references to relaxed drunks (ie high serotonin)

How to do it :
Just before starting stretching exercises , think of a pleasurable experience .
Your Beloved is good .
Then stretch , but slowly .
The stretching then generates endorphins to unlock the muscle fibres further in a feedback reaction .
Increase intensity .
This should do the trick .

Sex before an important sport event .
Unfortunately , this seems contra-indicated .
See Appendix A .
Being in a post-coital depression locks in the muscle fibres in a triste .
Rage like in a short sprint might be advantageous , but for something like a rugby match lasting 90 minutes , endorphins would be better .
Even sprints take long preparation .

The Effect :
Cold exercise without an endorphin warming decreases performance by about 5% .
Enough to kill you or lose the game , whichever is greater .

Optimism actually pays .

Oh well .

Andre

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Appendix A

Post-coital Depression Syndrome (PDS)
Andre Willers
24 Sep 2003 
Synopsis:
An evolutionary arms-race defense against sperm-displacement by other males is male quiescence close to the female ( with rapid male aggressive arousal response to threats ) . This easily overbalances into depression (monogamy can be described as an extended mild depression from the male viewpoint) . Stable dual systems evolve where the male quiescence trigger female nurturing instincts . In extreme cases this forms a dual pathology : a repeating cycle of  aggressive coitus , male depression , female nursing , recovered male aggressive coitus , etc.
 
Argument:
Hominids have had a long period when physically preventing other males from coitus with his lady love was the only way to ensure that only his genes were being transmitted .
Experiments done by G Gallup (shades of nominative determinism !)  of New York State University showed that the coronal ridge on human penises are 90% efficient in displacing semen in one deep thrust . (Evolution and Human Behavior vol 24 , p277 or New Scientist 9 Aug 2003 p16 )
 
Surveys indicated that human males employed deeper thrusts after a separation or if infidelity was suspected .
 
In the arms race of gene replication , the evolution of the coronal ridge must have accompanied the evolution of counter-actions , the most obvious being that the male must stay with the female until egg fertilization , while fighting off competitors if necessary .
 
One way of doing this is by reducing certain neurotransmitter concentrations , notably serotonin . This would have the effect of a mild depression ( the storied “little death” ) in males .
 
Anecdotal evidence : post-coital cigarettes ( nicotine stimulates serotonin production )  , as well as alcohol usage .
 
Of note here is the evolutionary tie-in between the depression and the rapid aggressive response . One would suspect that a rapid rise in serotonin concentrations would also lead to the easy triggering of extreme aggressive responses . ( Note side effects of Prozac)
 
Ie: the quiescent post-coital male is challenged and has to go to a fully aware state as quickly as possible . In most cases a blind rage will suffice as a defence , so that is selected for . This is not always sufficient against a canny opponent , so  males will also be selected for a balanced aggression response .
 
The Dual Pathology:
 As can be seen from the evolutionary argument above , it would tend to favor depressive males with homicidal rages .
 
The depressive stage is caused by lowering the serotonin levels below a certain threshold . Feedback mechanisms lower it further : ie trigger a full-blown depression .
 
The depressive stage triggers the female nursing response . The female nurses the male until the normal sexual aggression is restored , whereupon the cycle repeats . The components of the pathology are genetical  and learned response .
 
The effect is a stable relationship of misery . Each partner fulfills a deep genetic need , but neither is close to their maximum potential .
 
There is also no evolutionary stopper to prevent too low serotonin levels .
 
Intervention:
 
For normal humans:
The male should take some serotonin precursors ( 5HTP or Tryptophan) immediately before or after coitus .
Intervention with serotonin precursors at the start of a depressive episode should prevent most episodes .
 
Otherwise:
Prozac
 
Caution:
Intervention like this would raise general serotonin levels . Additional serotonin stimuli (like alcohol , nicotine ,etc) might trigger a rapid aggression response .
 
End