Reese’s calf was taped in red and blue KT Tape by 2011 USATF World Championships Medical Staff Team Member Holley DeShaw, LMT, CKTP, NCTMB. 

Read on for an excerpt on Reese’s success by Jorg Wenig for the IAAF in Daegu, Korea:

 With a ‘One Jump Show’ Brittney Reese took the world title in Daegu. But this unique women’s Long Jump victory at the World Championships was of course not planned.

 “I have never won a competition with just one valid jump,” said the 24 year-old American from Gulfport, Mississippi, who had five invalid attempts during the competition after her initial 6.82m leap. Reese won the first gold medal for the USA at the World Championships and she successfully defended her title from Berlin 2009.

 What she had planned was to start with a good jump.

 “It was my goal to open with a good jump so that the others would have to try to catch me. 6.82 was okay, but I really thought that seven metres would be necessary for the gold medal, because it was a very strong competition.”

 Asked about her feelings in the final round when both Olga Kucherenko of Russia and Latvian Ineta Radevica came close with their furthest jumps, which on the video screens looked as if they would have been further than 6.82m, she replied: “Every moment I thought that one of the others would jump seven metres and that I would have had to improve. It did not happen, no one jumped further, but it was close.”

 In the history of the women’s Long Jump finals at the World Championships there were a couple of athletes who had won with three valid jumps and only one with two: That was Jackie Joyner-Kersee, who took the gold medal 20 years ago. On the men’s side however there once was a parallel to Reese: In 2005 Dwight Phillips won in Helsinki with only his initial attempt valid.

 But there is another parallel to Joyner-Kersee: only Reese and Joyner-Kersee (1987 and 1991) have ever defended a world title in the women’s Long Jump. Fittingly when asked about a hero she looked up to she answered: “Oh yes there is one athlete: Jackie Joyner-Kersee.” Actually, she added, they are in contact regularly.

 “We phone each other from time to time and she motivates me, telling me I am the best. Probably I will very soon receive a congratulation text message from her.”

 Reese’s first sport was basketball and only turned to athletics in 2003. It was a bit a coincidence that her talent for the Long Jump was discovered. The coach of her basketball team at school asked the girls to do Long Jump and he was promising a Coke for the best one. That Coke went to Reese.

 It was then her mother, Carla Young, who convinced her that she should turn to athletics instead of basketball.

 “I have to thank her that she did so. But you should of course always listen to your mother,” said Reese, whose family home in Gulfport at the Mexican Gulf was partially destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Her mother and siblings were evacuated in time so they escaped injury and Reese was away at the time, studying at the University of Mississippi. So she was not immediately affected, but could not get home for some time.

 This spring she finished her exams in English. So she had more time to prepare for the World Championships than before. “This season however it did not make a difference.” But for the future it should help.

 “My weakness is my landing. We are working on this since I started long jumping and it improves from year to year. But it can still be improved. I think every one has got some weakness and the Long Jump is not only run and jump – it is not that simple.”

 Generally Reese, who is coached by Joe Walker and has a High Jump best of 1.88 m, is looking more for wins than for distance. Naturally the next big goal of the reigning World indoor champion will be the London Olympic Games in 2012.

 “I have got three World Championship medals so now my goal is to win an Olympic gold.”

 She had made her international break through in 2008, when she competed at the Olympics in Beijing, which were her first international championships. In China she had the best qualifying jump for the final with 6.87m. But in the final she could not quite match this and finished fifth with 6.76m.

 “If you can win major events the distance will come with it,” said Reese, who had taken the US Championships this summer with a personal best of 7.19m. Generally she expects that there will be more seven metre jumps in the near future…

 To read the entire article, visit the IAAF Athletics website.

Are you training, playing with, or coaching your own team of future “Derek Jeter”s?  Here are a few simple exercises for getting you and your team quickly back into playing shape from Baseball Training Secrets, provided by Jon Doyle for Active.com:

Every year coaches and athletes are faced with the same problem. For whatever reason (work, camp, pure laziness) athletes show up out of shape at the beginning of every season, especially after the summer.

Here is the exact program I use to get athletes in shape FAST. It has a high carryover to sports and will not cause overuse injuries! The following four exercises are to be done in circuit fashion.

Jumping Jacks

I’m sure everyone knows how to do these. The biggest piece of advice is to make sure you are making wide arches with your arms and taking your hands from your sides and touch above your head.

Shuffle Splits

Stand with one foot 6-8 inches in front of other foot on balls of your feet. Simply shuffle back and forth switching places of feet. Be sure movement is generated from hips. Hands are on hips and posture is perfect with eyes looking forward.

Burpees

Start by jumping straight up with arms extended. Come down to a squat position, on your toes and hands on ground on front of feet. Then kick legs back into start of a pushup position. Now bring those legs back to the squat position and from there jump up again with arms extended overhead. That is one rep!

Mountain Climbers

Start in push-up position with arms straight. One knee is bent and up near elbow and one leg is outstretched. Alternate “climbing” legs back and forth with speed. Ensure feet and knees always point straight ahead.

The idea is to do all four exercises for 30 seconds each. You’re not trying to go very fast on these. You always want to be in a state where your focus is on breathing properly. You want to always keep your feet moving, but control your heart rate. That’s important because when you’re competing you want your heart rate to be as low as it possibly can. That’s going to allow you not to get clouded in your decision-making…

To read the entire article by Jon Doyle, visit Active.com.

Looking for a way to keep your arm strong all season long? Active.com is also featuring a series of shoulder workouts from Todd Durkin of Fitness Quest 10 using the TRX that are ideal for keeping baseball players strong and flexible.  And don’t forget your KT Tape shoulder applications for injury prevention during these workouts!

The following excerpt from Livestrong.com provides general information on stretching muscles and calves that can be used in conjunction with KT Tape and other treatment modalities, and keep you pain-free on the beach and on the street!

Overview

You use muscles in your feet and calves all the time in daily life, whether you’re consciously aware of it or not. Your feet and calves help support your body during activities like standing, walking and climbing stairs and can become even more strained during physical activity and exercise. If you develop muscles aches in your feet and calves, certain stretching exercises may help alleviate your symptoms. If the aches persist or worsen, consult your doctor…

Prevention

…You might be able to prevent aching muscles in your calves and feet by properly stretching your muscles on a regular basis. If you are an athlete, it’s important to stretch both prior to and after your workout. Focus on stretching both your calves and the soles of your feet. Nocturnal leg cramps may also be prevented by performing simple calf stretches prior to going to bed. According to Travell and Simons, pain caused by trigger points can be prevented by performing specific stretching exercises that lengthen, strengthen and condition your muscles.

Benefits of Stretching Exercises

Stretching your calves and feet is an important part of alleviating your aches and pains. Stretching exercises focus on lengthening tight muscles and can reduce muscle knots and tension that may be causing your symptoms. Stretching exercises also help increase circulation in your legs and feet, which can help reduce the aches in your muscles.

Calf and Foot Stretches

You can perform a basic calf stretch by standing about 3 feet from a wall. Place your palms flat on the wall with your arms straight at shoulder height. Step forward with your right leg and bend your knee, making a right angle with the floor. Press your left heel into the floor, keeping the leg straight. You should feel a stretch in the calf muscles of your left leg. Repeat the stretch on your right leg. To perform a combined calf-and-foo-muscle stretch, stand on the bottom step of a flight of stairs. Allow your heels to hang over the edge of the stairs and press your body weight into your heels. This stretch focuses on both your calves and foot muscles.

You can read the entire article on feet and calf muscle stretches at Livestrong.com.

“I am completely and totally in shock! I could hardly move my knee this morning, and have a HUGE run tomorrow. This was recommended after 3 different knee braces didn’t work/support/relieve. WOWOWOWOW. Immediate flexibility and decreased pain. I can think of nothing I want to do more right now than run my A– off! Thank you. A customer for LIFE! ♥” -Colleen

 “I ran last night with the new taping method and my knee felt amazing!  I had no pain! Thank you so so much for all of your help! I really appreciate it.”  -Karen

“1 easy mile yesterday, no pain, 3 easy miles today, still no pain. Thanks @KTTape.” -Nick

 “Oh my gosh my knee has not hurt since I taped it like the picture you sent!  I can straighten and bend it without it hurting, and working all day with it taped, it doesn’t hurt at all…”  -Amanda

 “Well I want to tell my story!! Ran at the Thunder Road Marathon today and I was going in with sore calves from calf pulls.  I saw the vendor there at the expo and he “taped’ me up- well I ran a half marathon with NO calf pain!  LOVE IT!!!”  -Kelly

 “I would like to begin by saying your product is AMAZING.  I have chronic SI joint pain and used it for the first time at the Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon.   Normally, I can only run several miles before having to stop and stretch out my back.  Running was always painful for me and thus, I have been avoiding it for several months.  I have run several marathons and thought I would have to give it up, but my husband decided he wanted to try a half.  He signed us up and I figured that I would have to walk the majority of the way because the pain had been so bad recently.  Fit to Run was taping at the expo so I figured I would give it a try.  I am here to say absolutely NO PAIN at all during the run.  While I did not post my best time I was not far off given the fact that I literally did not train at all for this run.  I was only off by 6 minutes. I am a believer in this tape!” -Shelly

 For a full list of injuries and how to tape, visit the KT Tape Instructions Page.

1. Look both ways.  They teach this to you in preschool, so it seems like it should be second nature– but it is always important.  While running in town, be aware of traffic and always look for vehicles when crossing the street.
2. Check your blind spot.  When making a turn check over your shoulder in the direction you’re turning to make sure you’re clear of any bicycles or other runners.
3. Keep your music down.  While your favorite song may help keep you pumped as you run, don’t have the music so loud you can’t hear what’s happening around you.  This is especially important when running in the city.  It’s a good idea to run with just one music ear-bud in…and leave the other one free of music so you can be more alert to approaching traffic.
4. Give a friendly shout out.  When passing someone from behind along a narrow trail or sidewalk give a friendly “on your left” so they know you are coming.
5. Stay in your lane.  Try to stay to the right when running.  Be considerate and don’t take up the entire trail or sidewalk by running in the middle of it.  This makes it easier and safer for bicycles and other runners to pass.

Avoid awkward and potentially injury-causing running collisions with these simple tips.  Accidents do happen, though, and if you should find yourself with a rolled ankle or strained calf, look to KT Tape for your pain relief.  Our flexible cotton athletic tape moves with you so you can get back out on the road running.

For taping instructions click here.

In an article published by the UK’s Daily Mail, scientists say that “compounds in ginger work in a similar way to pain-relieving drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen. “

Participants in the featured study consumed capsules containing two grams of either raw or heat-treated ginger or a placebo for 11 consecutive days.

“On the eighth day they performed 18 extensions of elbow flexors with a heavy weight to induce moderate muscle injury to the arm. Arm function, inflammation and pain were assessed prior to and for three days after the exercise,” the article says.

The end result? Study participants consuming ginger experienced a 25 percent decrease in exercise-related pain.

Along with building a good base of strength and fitness, the skills of the game should be worked on, ideally as a team in order to produce a higher level of combined skills, as cricket is a sport that is played in two forms, batting and fielding.

BATSMAN

Batsman aim to stay at the crease for as long as possible, sometimes for periods of over 4 hours. In order to occupy this position, a good bats man most be able to stay focused, have good ball / eye skills, and have the strengths and fitness to make each shot played count.

The power will come from having a strong core, abdominal mid-section and the ability to generate explosive upper body actions, however with that said, using the kinetic energy of the ball as it speeds towards you, only requires a slight change in direction in order to score 4 runs – unfortunately this skill has only be given to a few class bats man.

FIELDING

Fielders need the ability to sustain a concentrated effort for a 6 hour plus period without fatigue, in sometimes very warm conditions. There bodies most be capable of explosive bursts at any given time – such as racing for a ball, jumping for a catch.

Aim to keep your body moving whilst on the pitch, walking and stretching the muscles whenever possible. Keep your mind busy by visualizing exactly what you will do when the ball comes towards you.

When you have a sport that requires explosive bursts, there is going to be soreness, muscle tears and strained tendons.  At KT Tape, we have the quintessential product that addresses these inherent discomforts.   KT Tape is highly effective at providing pain relief, stability & support, & faster recovery for injured or sore muscles and joints-without sacrificing comfort or freedom of movement.

In my early twenties while hiking through Glacier National Park, I would quietly snicker at those using hiking poles.  I simply didn’t understand them.  But I have since learned that when you hike with poles, you are distributing weight and shock over four limbs instead of two.  People who use hiking poles discover an almost immediate benefit to their knees, especially on downhill terrain, according to Mats Lundkvist of thebackpacker.com

Hiking poles or staffs help us to reduce weight on our feet and legs. The modern design of the hiking pole distributes the weight evenly on the whole body instead of legs. According to one estimate poles can reduce 15% of weight from your legs by spreading it on the arms and other parts of body. As they act like your legs so they also bear some of the weight. Especially when you are climbing on a steep hill, the poles bear much weight than in normal walking so the percentage of weight may rise even further.

When you take the leap and get hiking poles, you are doing yourself a favor, not just for your knees but for your overall safety in the back country as you maneuver through early runoff, unstable scree or wildlife on the trail.  It’s good to be versatile.

Here at KT Tape, we know the meaning of versatility.  Kinesiology Therapeutic tape is used for a myriad of reasons in addition to drug free pain relief,  including correcting body mechanics, creating biofeedback and increasing circulation & lymphatic drainage.  When I hit the trail this weekend, I’m going to be outfitted with poles and using KT Tape…join me!

In preparation for the Indianapolis 500 race, the 34th annual 500 Festival and Mini-Marathon will take place this weekend, and KT Tape will be there too!

The KT Tape Team will be at the KT Tape booth at the Mini-Marathon Expo to offer free taping demonstrations and advice to athletes.  Every year, over 40,000 visitors make their way to the expo to check out over 80 booths and exhibitors.

The 500 Festival Mini-Marathon Expo will be held Thursday, May 6 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday, May 7 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Indianan Convention Center, Halls D &E at 100 S. Capitol Ave.

Because KT Tape can be worn for up to five days per application, Indianapolis Marathon runners who stop by the KT Tape Booth can get taped up for race day at the expo! KT Tape is used by athletes to treat common sports injuries such as runner’s knee, shin splints, IT Band pain, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis, and quad or hamstring strain.  It is the only solution that will provide pain relief and support before, during, and after the race—without restricting motion.  At the Expo, the KT Tape team will be available to answer questions, demo product taping methods, and introduce Indianapolis to this revolution in pain relief and performance enhancement.

According to safesport.co.uk, the following strains and injuries are entwined with this leap over the bar.

• Muscle or tendon strain (including hamstring injuries), sprain, or fracture from awkward foot placement during running or takeoff, or from insufficient warm-up
• A hit from a dislodged bar in the high jump or foreign object in the long jump, either during flight or landing
• Sprains, fractures, or contusions from improper landing
• Blisters, shinsplints, or sprains from poor footwear

When it comes to muscle or tendon sprains, shinsplints and soreness, the high jumper will want to recover as quickly as he can to continue the tedious climb of inches.  According to experts, one of the best products available with the capacity to accomplish this goal is KT Tape.   Jumpers–if you want to see how to tape for injuries commonly occurring in your sport, go to  KTTape.com/instructions to watch how-to videos.

Laura’s story inspires thousands daily as she is the Michael Jordan of women’s diving in the United States.  At 15 she was told she was too old to start a new sport.  She dove anyway.  Nine months later she was kicked off her high school diving team because she just didn’t have it.  She continued to dive anyway.  One year later, she found herself on the US National Team and earned a bronze medal at the World Cup.  She would go on to win the 2000 Olympic platform gold medal in one of the biggest Olympic upsets in history.  Oh by the way, she did this with a foot she shattered in a training accident.

The bottom line:  Diving requires mental toughness, grit and a high degree of discipline.  From the words of Herbie Huesman, former standout on the University of Notre Dame Diving Team,

Diving, like any sport, takes an extreme amount of dedication and perseverance. Although people think of it is a non-contact sport, I don’t know of many football players who tackle at 35 mph which is the speed at which divers hit the water off the 10 meter platform. That’s the equivalent of a three story building! Diving is all about repetition. Practice doesn’t make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect. That means six hours of training a day during the summer, in the gym and pool, is normal. Obviously the toll on the human body is substantial and that is why you don’t see many divers compete much past the age of 30. Two reconstructed shoulders and a stress fracture in my back are proof of the rigors of the sport.

As far as equipment goes, diving requires very little.  During a training regimen, however, divers go through a lot of ice, lots of reps in the weight room and tape, primarily for ankles and wrists.    Kinesiology therapeutic tape is perfect for this sport in every way.  Not only is KT Tape ultra-light, and strong, but it’s WATERPROOF!  This is why KT Tape is the official kinesiology tape for the USA Waterpolo Team.  KT Tape is highly effective at providing pain relief, stability & support, & faster recovery for injured or sore muscles and joints-without sacrificing comfort or freedom of movement.  As a diver, what more could you want?  So all you divers throw on the suit and tape up; you are about to reach a new level.

See you there!

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