Stretching right after exercise probably doesn’t help you become more flexible right away, at least in healthy adults. Even though people often stretch to improve flexibility, it might not do much if...

Stretching after exercise probably doesn't help healthy adults perform better right after, and won't boost things like how high you can jump or how fast you can sprint.

Holding stretches for a few weeks in a row can actually make your muscles a little stronger and bigger, even if you don't do traditional weightlifting. This happens because keeping the muscle under tension for a long time signals it to adapt and grow.

Stretching after exercise probably doesn't help much with muscle soreness the next day, even if you're healthy and active.

Stretching after exercise probably doesn't help you regain muscle strength faster, and if it does, the benefit is so small it wouldn't really matter for most people who work out.

Stretching after exercise probably doesn't change how sensitive your body is to pain, even if some people feel better doing it.