ASSOCIATED PRESS Photo via @amareisreal/Instagram

The Knicks Amare Stoudemire talking with reporters recently, left, and soaking in red wine.

GREENBURGH, N.Y. Before we shake our heads or make a joke, let us all consider the frustration that has nagged at Amare Stoudemire as he has had to sit out 89 regular-season games over the last three seasons, a once-elite athlete forced to play limited minutes, limited games and a limited role for the Knicks.

Now, add into the mix a $100 million contract and the ability to try anything to recover the form he once held.

And that is how you wind up here: Stoudemire posting a selfie on Instagram on Wednesday night of himself soaking in a red wine bath.

"The red wine bath is very important to me because it allows me to create more circulation in my red blood cells," Stoudemire explained after Knicks practice Thursday. "Plus, its very hot, so its like a hot tub. But the red wine just kind of soothes the body, which follows up with a 90-minute massage and then also you have the ancient tub. So you have like a salt tub and a hot tub and a cold plunge and a pool and you just kind of mix it all up."

Stoudemire long ago reached the try-anything phase of his career, not unlike other athletes who struggle with injury and recovery. He spends time before every game on the floor of the locker room with his legs encased in large black tubes that fill with air, reading while teammates hustle around the room. This latest effort came courtesy of his wife, Alexis.

A search on the Internet finds mixed reviews of the process, but plenty of spots to perform it. The thinking is that the antioxidant resveratrol will soak through the skin during a 30-minute stay in the tub and help with recovery after days of hard work on the court.

"Ive been doing it for like six to eight months now," he said. "[Wednesday] I felt great after doing that. My legs felt rejuvenated. I felt great, so Im going to continue to do that for sure."

Stoudemire was limited last year, avoiding back-to-back games and playing under a team-imposed 30-minute limit per game although late in the season he pushed those limits as he started down the stretch. He might be the most talented power forward on the roster again, but the Knicks new regime seems equally cautious in approaching his role.

Continued here:

Amare willing to soak up remedies to recover