The Kansas City Royals didn’t need any additional help in order to win the 2015 World Series. Regardless, it looks like they are trying to get an edge now in an attempt to keep players extra healthy. They’ve teamed up with Atlanta-based Impact Cryotherapy to treat players.
Although it’s becoming more widespread, with athletes like LeBron James and Shaquille O’Neal getting on board, cryotherapy systems are still raising some question marks from skeptics.
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One instance that put cryotherpy in question was when Chelsea Ake-Salvacion, 24, died in one in Nevada in October.
Cryotherapy works by encasing a person in a gas, head exposed, in a tank that is minus 300 degrees Fahrenheit — colder than the coldest naturally occurring temperature on Earth.
The practice has enthusiasts saying it contributes to pain reduction, injury recovery, mood enhancement, even osteoporosis, asthma treatment, an increase libido and a potential kick-start to rapid weight loss.
Ice baths have been known to be a common practice in treating inflammation and certain injuries, but this goes to a different level. Plus, the Food and Drug Administration does not recognize any medical benefits from cryotherapy chambers and does not regulate the devices.
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Regardless, both the Royals and Impact are hyped. Hopefully there are no complications.
“We are delighted to be selected by the Kansas City Royals,” Richard E. Otto, Impact Cryotherapy CEO and Co-Founder, said in a statement. “Who knows, perhaps we’ll be able to contribute to the Royals winning a back-to-back World Series!”
Photos: Flickr user Keith Allison and via Impact Cryotherapy
