What is the Black Patch on Keri Walsh's Shoulder?
In the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China, Keri Walsh showed up to the first and each subsequent Beach Volley Ball competition that was being broadcast around the world, wearing a unique looking black tape design on her previously injured shoulder. Many people had never seen this before and mistook it for a Zen tattoo or the like for good karma during the Games.
Instead, this proven medical technique offers a reliable alternative to pain pills, anti-inflamatory medication and steroid injections and allows the person being treated to avoid the complications. It is known as Kinesio Stretching Therapeutic Tape and is applied by a Muscular Skeletal Specialist or Sports Medicine Trainer skilled in the art of Kinesiology Taping. This taping procedure has been documented to reduce swelling of injurred inflamed tissue, enhance circulation and stretch out the injured soft tissue and keep it more flexible and less prone for reinjury. One commentator quoted Keri's trainer saying "Simply put, the stretch tape was like taking an Advil without the side effects, impact on reflexes or gastrointestinal complications."
This specialty stretch tapping technique or "black patch" allowed Keri to compete at the top of her sport in Beach Volleyball in the 2008 Summer Olympic Games without the complications of medication or the limits in mobility, discomfort and muscle attrophy common with rigid braces. She was able to consistenly stretch the soft tissue in her shoulder, eliminate swelling and reduce pain in her shoulder while competing for Olympic Gold with this simple taping procedure.
The key for Keri Walsh was finding a technique that works focusing on the area of the body where she needed help without having to take medication that would effect her whole body, dulling her reflexes and resulting in other complications that could inhibit her competitiveness. As one of the top athletes in the world, Keri Walsh's choice was a reliable muscular skeletal taping procedure which she had tested in practice and chose to wear to one of the biggest competitions of her life. As her play demonstrated, with the tape in place, she was able to compete at the top of her field despite the injury.
In fact, recognizing Ms.Walsh's new found competitive advantage, many of the other olympic volleyball teams began using the elastomeric stretch taping on their various injuries. In one semi-final match, all four players were wearing elastic muscular skeletal stretch tape to manage the soft tissue injuries which they were dealing with during the competition.
On August 21, 2008 Keri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor together won their second consecutive Olympic Gold Medal in Beach Volleyball. Keri had the familiar black therapeutic patch taped skillfully in place on her injured shoulder all during a tight and rainy finals match in the Chaoyang Park arena with over 12,000 dedicated fans huddling under their colorful umbrellas and ponchos and the rest of the world watching intently via television.
These cool wet conditions added additional strain to the flexibility of muscle, joints and ligaments for many of the olympians during these last days of the Beijing Games with devasting results for some, but not for Walsh and May-Treanor. This amazing atheletic duo beat a strong Chinese team in the finals despite home court advantage, challenging weather and loud vocal support for their competition by a local patriotic fan base. Walsh and May did not lose a set in the Beijing venue or in the 2004 Games in Athens. Congratulations go to All the Olympic Champions in 2008, the Chinese for hosting the games and particularly to this remarkable team effort by Walsh and May. It was inspiring to watch!
Kinesiology utilizes the same medical principles as those employed with Carpal Solution Therapy. The difference is becasue of the unique design and specialized nature of the Carpal Solution you can self apply it in the convenience of your own home without the help of a specially trained practitioner. You too can be at your best without high risk invasive procedures, extensive downtime, or the complications of pain medication or steroid therapy or the discomfort and immobility of rigid wrist splints. The Carpal Solution is a proven alternative treatment that works to eliminate your worst symptoms in weeks and put your syndrome in compete remission over the Six Week Protocol.
