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	STRETCHING - Before? After? or Both? By: Brian Patafie Did you ever go to a hockey game or any sporting event for that matter and see the participants stretching before the game? I'm sure you have! Proper stretching technique before a game is very important for our bodies' muscles. It helps us use these muscles in their full range of motion (ROM), and it also helps us to prevent these muscles from straining or even tearing causing us to miss further games and practices.       It is important that our stretching is done in slow static moves in order to help warm up the muscles and get them firing. The body must be warmed up. Access to a warm shower or even a few minutes in a therapeutic hot tub at no more than 104 degrees Fahrenheit will warm up the body and get it in the mode for static stretching. (When I say static, I mean the slow smooth movements that take the muscle to its maximum ROM.)       Pre game stretching should not be viewed as a chore but as a part of your game and practice routine. It's something that you will learn to enjoy. Some teams stretch as a team, but if yours doesn't, pick a teammate to be your stretching partner and turn it into a game before the game.       NOTE: If you have iced down a certain extremity prior to stretching, wait until that area is naturally warmed back up before starting to stretch that area. Not doing so is like taking a steak out of the freezer and expecting it to be pliable. It just doesn't work.        Brian Patafie, Athletic Trainer Ottawa 67's (OHL) Augusta Lynx Hockey Club (ECHL) 15 years Calgary Flames (NHL)
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