Just a general comment on stretching. Most people have "increased tone" that we assume is muscle shortening and therefore needs to be stretched. In most people a general anaesthetic will show that in fact the muscle tissue itself is not tight, more over it is the brain that is influencing the resting tone of the muscle when conscious. This is seen repeatedly in cases of post knee replacement clients who go for manipulation under anaesthetic.

So then how does one get the brain to reduce this influence. Clinically I have observed that strengthening a muscle through movement about a joint and therefore familiarising the brain and tissue as to the results (pain, damage or neither etc) seems to result in sustainable gains. More so as the body gain strength in the new range it is able to use this new range and therefore maintain it without such regular "stretching" procedures.

Static stretching, whether maintained for 1,2,5,10,30 minutes might well reveal different results however unless you do this from day one until the end of life as we know it the gains will not be maintained. I suggest therefore working against mild resistance (eccentric and concentric) into the direction you are trying to improve. Pilates, Gyrotonic and even Yoga all provide good mediums to achieve this goal. 8o