One good thing about getting forgetful after Social Security kicks in, is that I no longer have to apologize for writing about the same subject over and over again.

So, for the x-th time in y-years — let’s talk about stretching.   Actually, some real science is replacing traditions that were never based on fact.   As with much of what’s out there in the field of strength and conditioning, someone with a loud voice got the herd pointed in the wrong direction.   They said with authority and conviction, “Everyone should stretch before competition — and don’t move for 30 seconds while you hold each awkward position.” 

There is now a lot of evidence that before a competition involving strength, speed or explosive power — stretching is counterproductive.  That is, sprint times are slower and strength performance is weaker.

We’re not talking about stretch without warm-up.   That was obviously wrong.   These research studies incorporated static stretching as part of an otherwise good warm-up, and performance was poorer than when there was just the warm-up without stretching.

Furthermore, chances of injury are probably increased — not decreased — if static stretching precedes competition.  Note however, there are a few studies that do not support this second finding.

Given this uncertainty, it might be wise to observe the NHL — and do just the opposite!  After all, a certain percentage of the dreaded groin and hip-flexor injuries are caused by a typical NHL warm-up.   The majority result from inadequate training before reporting to camp in the fall, but that’s another story.

What goes wrong in a hockey warm-up?   Well, let’s follow two world-class athletes in their pre-competition routines: a 100 yard-dash sprinter and a hockey player.   They both arrive very early and start slow activities to raise the heart rate, increase blood flow and get muscles warm.   Good so far.

Now the hockey player sits down to dress, while the track athlete continues to intensify his warm-up.   This is where the NHL starts its downward spiral.   Let’s just call it “ill-advised” for lack of a more colorful word.

After sitting, dressing and sitting some more, players walk out of the locker room and sit again — this time on the ice to stretch — and especially to over-stretch the groins to impossible angles.

Rather than sit around and cool off, the track athlete sprints a little faster, while inserting rest intervals of constant motion, walking or jogging.   Someone tells him the NHL advises that he stretch while sitting on a block of ice or a snowbank.   What?   A different colorful word this time. 

Actually, track sprinters did include stretching as part of their warm-up in years past, but we won’t see much of that in the future; and indeed it was rare to see it performed on a block of ice.

After sitting on the ice, the hockey player joins the real world again.   He and the sprinter begin the most intense phase of warmup, mimicking the actual competition.   The hockey player skates, handles the puck and shoots; the sprinter rehearses his starts out of the blocks or practices hurdles, if that is his event.   This prepares nerves and muscles for the actual movements — much as a gymnast or golfer would do.

After a few short sprints at close to full speed, the track athlete is ready to compete.   The hockey player is ready to sit — as in motionless — while the ice is resurfaced and the coach talks about important things to kill time.   There will be 25 minutes of sitting before standing still for the National Anthem — plural if a Canadian team is visiting.

By the time the second and third lines jump over the boards into full-fledged competition, it’s been 35 minutes since the last time they moved their legs — 45 minutes for kids in the Minnesota State High School Tournament, because grandmothers and TV producers insist that every player is introduced individually, and that they stand motionless with their best, nervous smile.

To the track star we might ask, “Would you consider sitting or standing motionless for 40 minutes just before jumping in the blocks for the 100 yard dash?”

Colorful word.