Achilles Tendinitis

Gold, silver, and bronze weren't the only colors decorating Beijing Olympians. Some athletes wore Kinesio Tex Tape in strips of pink, blue, and black. This adhesive is popular because it speeds healing without limiting range of motion, says Amol Saxena, D.P.M., a sports podiatrist in Palo Alto, California. "The tape pulls up the skin slightly, allowing more blood to flow to the injured area," he says. He teaches runners, including bronze medalist Shalane Flanagan, how to put it on themselves. The tape ($14.95 per roll at kinesio-tape.com) can last five days, even in the shower. Saxena thinks black sticks best to sweaty skin.

1. Cut a piece of Kinesio tape to reach from the top of your calf muscle to the bottom of your heel.

2. Flex your foot. With the tape backing still on, place one end of the strip on the bottom of your heel. Run your thumb up the tape to the top of your Achilles tendon (a few inches above your ankle).

3. Starting at the top of the tape, cut the strip down the middle to the spot your thumb marked.

4. Remove the backing from the uncut portion of the tape. Place the tape on the bottom of your heel and, keeping your ankle flexed, stretch the tape as you lay it over your Achilles tendon. Smooth the edges down over your Achilles.

5. One at a time, remove the backing from the cut portions of the tape and place it (don't stretch it) over the outer and inner calf muscle to form a "V".