The role of Heat: does it actually help?

[wanthis Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wanthis]

So in a post in the the brilliant thread by The Kidd "Science, Method, and Surrounding Issues of Penis Enlargement Explained", he mentioned that Collagen Denatures at body temperature. That piece of information really sparked my interest. This would mean that the appropriate use of heat should definitely be able to help us grow the Collagen portion of our Penises at the very least. But the majority of us have been using heat for ages, and the majority of us have seen our gains trail off to nothing. So I decided to take a look into the denaturing of collagen under heat. This is what I found:

Collagen actually denatures and shortens under heat. "WTF". You read that correctly. You can imagine my shock. I was amazed how no one has ever stumbled across this little piece of information before. Honestly, I wouldn't have either unless The Kidd had done all the research that he did and somehow uncovered that Collagen denatures at body temperatures.

Basically the collagen fibers are arranged in a triple helix structure, but denaturing causes them to rearrange into random coils which leads to shortening of the collagen. However, as soon the denaturing process stops, the collagen starts to renature back into the triple helix structure.

Here's what I take away from it. Heat on it's own may not be producing any sort of growth. But heat to denature the collagen, and then renaturing it in an elongated state, may actually be help to lengthen it. This is obviously just a inference. Here's where the cool-down vs the warm-down theories come into play. So from what I have read, I am starting to think cooling down in extended state may be the way to go.

I am sure most of you guys have questions. But let me anticipate a few of those questions and address them now. I am sure that heat does still play a beneficial role. It prevents injuries by maintaining flexibility and making sure things don't get too tight and snap under stress. Also, the flushed state that everyone experiences after the warm-ups is due to the blood being diffused into the soft tissues. So I hope that people don't freak out and completely abandon the application of heat. This information is just a drop in the bucket; a piece of the puzzle.

Again, what I have found isn't the ultimate "truth". We need to keep looking for more answers. I am hoping this will lead to someone else finding something of even more significance. I am going to keep looking into this and trying to find something more. The key to growth lies in understanding both the collagen and the smooth muscles. You cannot neglect either of them.

References:
http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/bi00782a003
http://www.edinformatics.com/math_sc...ow_cooking.htm
http://link.springer.com/article/10....2869897#page-1
http://www.udel.edu/PT/PT%20Clinical.../vangsness.pdf
http://books.google.com/books?id=uFa...tening&f=false
http://www.ultherapy.com/uploads/doc...n-Collagen.pdf

[AussieWang Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close AussieWang]

That is interesting. Maybe performing a stretch routine, after a warm-up, then throwing on an extender or somehow keeping your fella stretched, cool down.

I'd test this myself if I had the privacy/resources.

[kickinthemebs Senior Member Member of the Month Feb 2014 Find all posts View Profile Close kickinthemebs]

Working for me anyway

That is interesting. Maybe performing a stretch routine, after a warm-up, then throwing on an extender or somehow keeping your fella stretched, cool down.

I'd test this myself if I had the privacy/resources.

[jedimindtricks022 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close jedimindtricks022]

So in a post in the the brilliant thread by The Kidd "Science, Method, and Surrounding Issues of Penis Enlargement Explained", he mentioned that Collagen Denatures at body temperature. That piece of information really sparked my interest. This would mean that the appropriate use of heat should definitely be able to help us grow the Collagen portion of our Penises at the very least. But the majority of us have been using heat for ages, and the majority of us have seen our gains trail off to nothing. So I decided to take a look into the denaturing of collagen under heat. This is what I found:

Collagen actually denatures and shortens under heat. "WTF". You read that correctly. You can imagine my shock. I was amazed how no one has ever stumbled across this little piece of information before. Honestly, I wouldn't have either unless The Kidd had done all the research that he did and somehow uncovered that Collagen denatures at body temperatures.

Basically the collagen fibers are arranged in a triple helix structure, but denaturing causes them to rearrange into random coils which leads to shortening of the collagen. However, as soon the denaturing process stops, the collagen starts to renature back into the triple helix structure.

Here's what I take away from it. Heat on it's own may not be producing any sort of growth. But heat to denature the collagen, and then renaturing it in an elongated state, may actually be help to lengthen it. This is obviously just a inference. Here's where the cool-down vs the warm-down theories come into play. So from what I have read, I am starting to think cooling down in extended state may be the way to go.

I am sure most of you guys have questions. But let me anticipate a few of those questions and address them now. I am sure that heat does still play a beneficial role. It prevents injuries by maintaining flexibility and making sure things don't get too tight and snap under stress. Also, the flushed state that everyone experiences after the warm-ups is due to the blood being diffused into the soft tissues. So I hope that people don't freak out and completely abandon the application of heat. This information is just a drop in the bucket; a piece of the puzzle.

Again, what I have found isn't the ultimate "truth". We need to keep looking for more answers. I am hoping this will lead to someone else finding something of even more significance. I am going to keep looking into this and trying to find something more. The key to growth lies in understanding both the collagen and the smooth muscles. You cannot neglect either of them.

References:
Reversible and irreversible denaturation of collagen fibers - Biochemistry (ACS Publications)
Science of Slow Cooking
Thermal denaturation of collagen revisited - Springer
http://www.udel.edu/PT/PT%20Clinical.../vangsness.pdf
Food Proteins - Google Books
http://www.ultherapy.com/uploads/doc...n-Collagen.pdf

always notic better erections in heat tbh

[wanthis Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wanthis]

I am definitely going to try a cool down myself. The question is how?.. pour cold water? Rub an Ice Cube? All of it sounds a bit uncomfortable. There was a member here recently; he was actually a moderator; he claimed that he's gains sped when he switched from warming down to cooling down. He gained 2 inches in length in a very short amount of time.

[HammerTime89 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close HammerTime89]

I use a cool down and it keeps my penis engorged after my workout were when I use heat it goes to a smaller than normal flaccid. I use a cool wash cloth wrap around my penis for about three minutes.

[MrB8 Senior Member Member of the Month Nov 2013 Find all posts View Profile Close MrB8]

After a ‘normal’ PE session, I allow my penis to cool to body temperature under light stretch.

If I have had a very intense session, or there is any active inflammation, I allow it to cool naturally to body temperature, then ice it.

Bear in mind also that the penis takes very little time to cool all the way through.

Here are a few guidelines on the use of ice that I wrote for my patients. Obviously they are written to apply to musculoskeletal conditions, so use your common sense to extract what is useful to apply to the penis. If you are going to try ice, please read them carefully:

Use of Ice

ICE is simple, safe and very effective for many injuries and painful musculoskeletal conditions.

Ice in any form may be used - gel packs, water with ice in it, bags of frozen peas, crushed ice in a polythene bag - whatever is most convenient. Please don’t use ice direct on skin, it can cause nasty ‘cold burns’ or can stick, which is very unpleasant! Whatever you use wrap it in a dry or damp tea towel or similar. (Dry is essential in cold weather if outside).

Ice has a two-fold effect. Initially it decreases tissue temperature and causes local blood vessels to constrict. As the body tries to re-establish homeostasis, its effect changes to increase tissue temperature and dilate the blood vessels in deep tissue. These responses alternate.

• Cold applied locally to the site of the injury will:
• Chill pain receptors, decreasing pain
• Constrict local blood vessels, slowing blood circulation, stopping bleeding and reducing inflammation
• Dilate deep blood vessels, bringing nutrients to the area and speeding removal of debris from inflammation
• Reduce muscle spasm
• Decrease tissue damage

Healing time is directly proportional to the amount of swelling, so it is vital to control swelling as soon as possible after an injury, and not allow further damage to surrounding tissue.

How long to ice an area for depends on the area - icing an area for too long can cause cold damage. A finger for example will take much less icing (e.g. 5 mins.) than a thigh, and a superficial injury will take less than a deep injury. Generally no body part should ever be iced for more than 20-25 mins . If icing a wrist or ankle in water with ice in it, keep fingers/toes out of the water. Use your common sense.


When using ice you will feel the following stages:

Cold

Burn

Ache

Numbness

When you feel numbness has been achieved, stop icing. The treatment can be repeated when the part has warmed up again. Cold therapy may be continued for 24 to 48 hours following the injury. Two to three times a day is usual, although with a more severe injury this may be increased.


Ice therapy is generally very safe when used within the time recommendations above. However, it is NOT recommended if you have:

• Allergy to cold
• Collagen disease
• Circulatory problems
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Cardiac problems
• Reynaud’s disease

Additionally, ice should not be used over a superficial nerve or areas of impaired sensation or paralysis. If in doubt always consult your doctor before using cold therapy.

A word about the ever popular cold sprays. Although they have their place, I would not recommend them. They are difficult to use effectively. If used insufficiently they do the opposite of what is intended - they chill the surface, but no lower, which causes a reflex reaction by the body of increasing blood flow to warm the area. If used enough to cool deep tissue, they are liable to cause freeze burns to the skin.

Ice is very beneficial if any trauma (however mild) has been caused to the tissues, so I use ice after a session where I have considerably overdone it. Otherwise I just let things cool on their own while maintaining stretch.
Ice will cool the tissues - because the body wants its tissues to be at body temperature it will flush the tissues with lots of fresh blood to warm the tissues, once you take the ice pack off. In the process, metabolic and inflammatory by-products are flushed out of the tissues and lots of fresh, oxygenated, nutrient laden blood enters the tissues.

.

[Dangler Senior Administrator☼ Wizard ☼ White Tiger Award 2015 Find all posts View Profile Close Dangler]

yes.

[MrB8 Senior Member Member of the Month Nov 2013 Find all posts View Profile Close MrB8]

yes.

It also minimizes risk of injuries, KingPole recommends longer warmups for girth work.

[burtybasset Retired Moderator Member of the Month May 2014PEGym Hero Find all posts View Profile Close burtybasset]

Great post, interesting reading new theories on the subject, are guys trying anything out with this theory? if so what are your experiences?

[AussieWang Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close AussieWang]

I tried a little test in the shower. Warmed up my little guy, stretched it out for a bit (like 30 seconds), held the stretch as I turned off the hot water. Just let the cold water hit it for maybe 30 seconds to a minute, taking care to keep my nuts out of the way. He did look more plump for a little afterwards.

Also, if ice has a good effect, I can't see why using it all the time, instead of just when you feel like you have overdone it. As long as you don't do your routine too often to avoid desensitizing to the cold.

[schlittle Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close schlittle]

Excellent post Wanthis! It's definately worth a try, so from tomorrow i'm going to be adding a cool down at the end of my workout.

[wanthis Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wanthis]

I use a cool down and it keeps my penis engorged after my workout were when I use heat it goes to a smaller than normal flaccid. I use a cool wash cloth wrap around my penis for about three minutes.

That's great to hear that it does seem to have a positive impact

Great post, interesting reading new theories on the subject, are guys trying anything out with this theory? if so what are your experiences?

I remember having read about a few members here having positive experiences with cool downs. One of the bigger gainers actually claimed quicker gains. As far as immediate impact goes, it looks some people have tried it out and found it to be helpful from their posts on this thread

I tried a little test in the shower. Warmed up my little guy, stretched it out for a bit (like 30 seconds), held the stretch as I turned off the hot water. Just let the cold water hit it for maybe 30 seconds to a minute, taking care to keep my nuts out of the way. He did look more plump for a little afterwards.

Also, if ice has a good effect, I can't see why using it all the time, instead of just when you feel like you have overdone it. As long as you don't do your routine too often to avoid desensitizing to the cold.

Thanks for trying it out and giving us feedback. It definitely sounds like it could be beneficial. I am going to do this regularly now.

Excellent post Wanthis! It's definately worth a try, so from tomorrow i'm going to be adding a cool down at the end of my workout.

Let us know how it affects you!

[wanthis Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wanthis]

I just wanted to add that I have wrapping a wet paper towel that I throw in the freezer after my workouts the past two days, and it seems like flaccid maintains much of its length after I remove the ADS device. It also feels very soft and healthy in the morning after waking up. Also, I am not too sure about this, But it may be helping with some of the discoloration as well.