What are those stickers on the shoulders of some of the Olympic competitors?

Question

On the US Women's Volleyball team, the one chick is wearing this black blobby sticker on her right shoulder. Any clue what these represent?

Answer 1

well...the comentator said it was for support since shoulder surgery but also stated that it wasn't very effective. she said kerry walsh (the athelte) has been using it for awhile now and said it might be more of a mental thing. if she has it on, she feels more comfortable and the last thing an olympic athlete wants is to be uncomfortable, especially on a worldwide stage.  

Answer 2

She wears it because she had shoulder surgery last november. The commenters said it's more of a "habit type" thing, than it is that her shoulder is still recovering.

Answer 3

idk, i asked that too???

but i guess its with her healing or whatever

Answer 4

It's called kinesio tape. It is a dynamic taping system that allows for support and protection of a joint, in this case her shoulder and scapula, but also allows for full range of motion during activity. I am a certified kinesio tape practicioner and licensed occupational therapist and can atest that when used properly, the tape has multiple benefits and can decrease pain and inflammation.  

Answer 5

It doesn't help that much with support, but it helps her know where her arm is in space. With the surgery, you can lose a little bit of that perception. It wouldn't be noticeable to most people, but it could affect an Olympic caliber athlete. She tapes it in the same pattern every time, and her body retrains itself to use the signals from the tape pulling on the skin in addition to the signals from the muscles.  

Answer 6

It's not representing anything. That is Walsh of US Women's Beach Volleyball and she recently had surgery on her shoulder. You can't have a shoulder cast so it is taped like that. I am not sure what good it does, since she still is using that arm.

Answer 7

I asked this too and they are medical tape of some kind  to help with circulation and pressure points. WEIRD HUH?