Kerri Walsh & the Black Thing on Her Shoulder

If you let the curiosity get the better of you and wanted to know what the black thing on US Olympic volley ball player, Kerri Walsh's shoulder is, then you're not alone.

The 29 year old Kerri Walsh wore ink-black "Kinesio Tape" on her shoulder to "increase blood flow" during today's match.

Walsh had arthroscopic surgery last November to repair the rotator cuff, remove a bone spur that had been pushing into a tendon, and clean up scar tissue.

Many started wondering whether Walsh would be ready this summer after a setback in May. The 6-foot-3 player couldn't fully extend her arm to smack her trademark kills. But Walsh didn't get frustrated as she continued rehabilitation.

"It's OK. I just want to play volleyball," she said. "I'm such an anxious player. I go in there and go hard and I get myself in trouble."

The Kinesio Taping Method is applied over muscles to reduce pain and inflammation, relax overused tired muscles, and to support muscles in movement on a 24hr/day basis. It is non-restrictive type of taping which allows for full range of motion.