Karl Alzner recently took the chance to chill out – literally.
He stripped down to step into a cryotherapy chamber, where gaseous nitrogen is used to drop the temperature within the chamber to subzero temperatures of -200°F to -300°F for two to three minutes at a time. Proponents of cryotherapy say that the process helps to speed muscle recovery and release endorphins.
Five days ago, Alzner celebrated his milestone 500th consecutive game played – a franchise record.
Went to District Cryo the other day and I highly recommend it! If you like cold. Or feeling good. Or recovering. Or whatever. pic.twitter.com/RQVGLWis5y
— Karl Alzner (@KarlAlzner) January 6, 2017
Despite the frigid temperatures, Alzner’s big grin indicates that he might be a sadist who enjoys hanging out in temperatures so cold they could kill someone.
Although cryotherapy seems to have found the most acclaim with professional basketball players, Alzner is not the first in the NHL to test out the icy method of treatment. Tyler Seguin of the Dallas Stars says he is “addicted to cryotherapy” and has incorporated it into his game day routine.
Cryotherapy is still considered a relatively controversial, as there is conflicting information about whether or not it is actually effective. Still, many athletes swear by it for “feeling good. Or recovering. Or Whatever,” as Alzner so eloquently put it.
Stay icy, Alzner.
