Amar’e Stoudemire Trying To Rejuvenate Body In Wine Baths

Mar 30, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; New York Knicks forward Amare Stoudemire (1) looks on against the Golden State Warriors in the fourth quarter at Oracle Arena. The Knicks won 89-84. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

One of the most polarizing figures on the New York Knicks is Amar’e Stoudemire. He is in the final year of the infamous contract that he signed in the summer of 2009 when he proclaimed, “The Knicks are back!” The Knicks became relevant again, but the injuries that plagued Stoudemire prior to his stint with the Knicks started catching up to him again recently and Stoudemire has missed plenty of time. This season he is trying something new and unusual to some, vinotherapy, to help his body rejuvenate.

Vinotherapy, or vinotherapie, is essentially wine baths. Stoudemire has been taking them for more than the past six months in hopes that it would help his injury riddled body recover and get him near his old playing shape.

“The red wine bath is very important to me because it allows me to create more circulation in my red blood cells,” said Stoudemire after practice on Thursday. “Plus, it’s very hot, so it’s like a hot tub. But it’s also the red wine… just kind of soothes the body.”

There have been doctors that said a glass of red wine is good for you with dinner because of the health benefits from the ingredients. “Grape polyphenols fight against free radicals, which cause 80 percent of skin aging. In addition to their exceptional antioxidant power, polyphenols reinforce microcirculation, protect elastin and collagen fibers and prevent the destruction of the fundamental elements of the skin’s support tissues,” according to the Caudalie Vinotherapie Spa at the renowned Plaza Hotel in New York City.

In addition to the number of different tanks Stoudemire dunks himself into in an effort to, “just kind of mix it all up,” he receives a 90-minute massage after the bath treatment.

More from New York Knicks

• New York Knicks Fall to Eighth After NBA Draft Lottery
• New York Knicks: Players to Draft in Worst-Case Lottery Scenario
• New York Knicks: Three Players Who Should Thrive Under Tom Thibodeau
• Is Devin Booker to the New York Knicks Realistic?
• New York Knicks: Tom Thibodeau Officially Hired as Head Coach

Some people may cry foul over such a treatment, but it would look like it is having a positive impact on Stoudemire so far. “Well yesterday I felt great. And after doing that recovery day, my legs felt rejuvenated. I felt great, so I’m going to continue to do that for sure,” Stoudemire said when questioned about how he felt throughout the Knicks’ off day Wednesday.

The most telling thing about if the treatment in reference to if it’s working or not, just look at Stoudemire on the court. He has played in all of the Knicks preseason games thus far, including a stretch of three games in four nights that ended Tuesday. That is something Stoudemire has struggled doing the last three seasons with the Knicks when he has been quoted as saying he feels great.

Head coach Derek Fisher says the Knicks have a plan in place to manage Stoudemire’s health throughout the season in practices and games. Whatever the Knicks have in place, it doesn’t hurt that Stoudemire is going the extra mile to get his body ready, even if it is something as unheralded as a wine bath. If it makes him feel better, that is all that matters.