Why on earth would you do that!
Oh, Ian...for desperate want of a Thorn Too Big, of course!
They make my eyes water, as well. Supposedly, they are a means to achieving greater flexibility for runners and such who have trouble stretching on their own. Such things were referred to as Racks in medieval times....
All the best,
Dan. (...who probably doesn't
need to be
that flexible in
that plane)