# Stretching

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stretching/47361>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 27, 2000, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stretching/47361 "2000-12-27T09:08:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2000, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stretching/47361/1 "2000-12-27T09:08:21Z")

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Sometimes as I am lying in my bed, relaxing or reading, I find myself stretching and I am womdering what causes this and what happens physiologically in the body at the time?

Thanks  
Q

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**Author:** ![zen101](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c68b51/32.png) [@zen101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zen101)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2000, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stretching/47361/2 "2000-12-27T10:00:41Z")

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I’m not a physical therapist but I think I recall reading that fatigue poisons can build up in muscles when at rest and that the act of stretching engorges the muscles and tissues with fresh oxigenated blood, forcing out the oxygen depleted and poison laden blood thus making you feel envigorated and more relaxed.

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**Author:** ![Adolph\_Peewee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e47c2d/32.png) [@Adolph\_Peewee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Adolph_Peewee)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2000, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stretching/47361/3 "2000-12-27T13:36:37Z")

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This is pretty much what happens. it’s too late/early in the morning for me to think exactly what happens and what processes are involved. Something to do with Lactic acid build-up or something…ah…who cares

Bed Beckons

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**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2000, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stretching/47361/4 "2000-12-27T23:55:16Z")

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nothing to add to the OP other than to say I like the screen name.