Podcast Summary: The MSing Link — Episode 267 Kinesiology Tape for MS: How It Works for Spasticity, Balance & Movement
Host: Dr. Gretchen Hawley, PT, DPT, MSCS
Guest: Dr. Steven Capobianco, Chiropractor & Co-founder of RockTape
Date: January 14, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of The MSing Link dives into the science, applications, and practicalities of kinesiology tape for people living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Dr. Gretchen Hawley interviews Dr. Steven Capobianco, a chiropractor and co-founder of RockTape, about how kinesiology tape communicates with the brain, aids in symptom management for spasticity, balance, and mobility challenges, and empowers MS patients to gain more control over their movement.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Dr. Capobianco’s Background & RockTape Origins

• Dr. Capobianco shares his journey from a strength and conditioning coach to becoming a chiropractor and eventually co-founding RockTape after collaborating with an athlete/inventor seeking a better kinesiology tape.
  (04:36)

  “I was the only individual clinician in his area that was actually known for using this type of intervention so he approached me for some advice... we created the brand RockTape which is a form of kinesiology tape in 2009.” — Dr. Capobianco (05:17)

Who Benefits from Kinesiology Tape?

• Originally applied for mechanical joint support in musculoskeletal injuries, Dr. Capobianco’s understanding evolved to see the tape as a communication tool for the nervous system, relevant for both neurological and mechanical issues.
  (06:48)

  “My answer now would be that the tools that we’ve created are probably most beneficial in communicating with the nervous system to be able to influence whatever the symptoms may be from pain to motor dysfunction and everything in between.” — Dr. Capobianco (07:55)

What is Kinesiology Tape? How Does It Work?

• Kinesiology tape is an elastic, cotton-nylon based adhesive (Acrylic, hypoallergenic for most) applied to the skin to provide sensory feedback to the brain.
• Not intended to "tape a muscle" per se, but to tape the region being moved, thus providing the brain with fresh sensory input. (10:10, 12:50)

  “This tape is not a cure, it’s not the fix. It’s really used to complement... movement and getting people confidence in moving is the best tool we know of right now. And this tape, if it provides you more comfort, provides you more awareness on the area of the body that you’re trying to move, then that’s how you apply it.” — Dr. Capobianco (12:45)

Mechanism: Communicating With the Brain

• Kinesiology tape provides novel sensory stimulation to areas where the brain might have “blind spots” due to demyelination or lack of feedback—common in MS.

• The tape creates a mechanical lift on the skin, stretching underlying mechanoreceptors and increasing the nervous system’s awareness of that region. (13:37, 17:58)

  “If the brain has a blind spot... we’re going to try to provide a different route of information using the skin... to influence the brain’s awareness of where that body part is.” — Dr. Capobianco (15:11)

  “Just by applying a strip of tape over an area... just provide the brain with some new and novel stimulus that it could use to make a better decision.” — Dr. Capobianco (16:42)

Research & Evidence

• Evidence for tape in MS is emerging; some studies show improved balance and sensation when the foot is taped.
• A 2024-25 study found that taping the bottoms of feet improved balance and sensory discrimination in people with MS. (21:11)

  “A recent study 2024–25... taped a single strip to the bottom of the foot of those experiencing MS — improved their balance and improved sensation of that area of the body.” — Dr. Capobianco (21:37)

Practical Applications in MS:

Symptom Targets:

• Muscle tightness/spasticity
• Weakness (to help activation)
• Sensory loss (foot numbness impacting balance)
• Movement confidence (like foot drop) (13:37, 22:41, 44:37)

Implementation:

• Apply tape to the relevant body part (e.g., bottom of foot for balance, calf for spasticity, shin for foot drop).
• Tape can be used both for general awareness and for specific functional improvement (e.g., practice walking or sit-to-stand with tape to build confidence). (32:07)

Progression Strategy:

• Start by applying tape to the area in a stretched position.
• If stronger feedback is needed and the skin tolerates, progress to neutral or shortened muscle positions for increased stimulus. (44:37, 47:45)

  “Start with that and that allows someone... how is your function changing? Some people experience changes within minutes... others take days or weeks... and some don’t get a response...” — Dr. Capobianco (46:18)

Self-Application:

• RockTape and other brands are available retail; each box has application instructions.
• Simple principle: less stretch on the tape, more stretch on the body part during application. (34:35, 35:03)

Predictive Processing & Symptom Management

• The brain uses prediction to keep us safe; if it lacks sensory information (or confidence), it often creates tightness, spasticity, or even pain as a protective measure. (26:25, 29:09)

  “If the brain is under threat because it doesn’t necessarily know where it is in space because of a lack of information... it will fill that void with either pain, tightness, or spasticity — any way to protect you from moving because it can’t predict where you’re going to be in the near future.” — Dr. Capobianco (27:50)

• Kinesiology tape acts as a way to "shine a flashlight" on unseen body areas, reducing threat, improving movement, and allowing more confident practice and function.

Safety Considerations

• Test for adhesive sensitivity (same as wound bandages)—apply a small patch and monitor for redness/itch.
• Less is more: avoid overstretch. Overstretched tape can irritate skin.
• General tape lasts 3–5 days, can shower/exercise with it.
• Remove tape by peeling parallel to the skin, in direction of hair growth, not perpendicular. (38:32, 42:04, 43:48)

  “When you’re applying it... less is more... stretch the body part, not the tape... Applied properly, it’s safe, lasts 3 to 5 days...” — Dr. Capobianco (40:22)

Contraindications:

• Known allergies to acrylic adhesives.
• Significant skin breakdown or dermatologic issues in the area.

Journaling and Mindful Awareness

• Dr. Capobianco strongly recommends journaling about sensations and function when trying tape.
• Body scanning and noting changes increases interoceptive awareness—a key contributor to improved outcomes. (48:40, 50:32)

  "The exercise of just paying attention to how you feel... is part of the solution that I want more people to do." — Dr. Capobianco (49:36)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On MS and Sensory Loss:

  “We’re providing a sensory stimulus to provide the brain some more information of where it is... the risk to reward ratio really is in your favor putting a simple strip of tape on the bottom of your foot.” — Dr. Capobianco (21:11)

• On Symptom Relief Outliers:

  “One [patient] has pretty extreme spasticity... the only thing she’s found... to help has been kinesiology tape... it sounds too good to be true, but it actually can.” — Dr. Hawley (22:41)

• On Placebo & Evidence:

  “I always stack it... with information because I want them to understand what this tape does... I’m not shying away from the placebo effect either. If it influences your ability to move and feel, let’s leverage that!” — Dr. Capobianco (25:04)

• The Analogy of Confidence:

  “The more confident the brain is in moving in known spaces, the better your movement’s going to be. But if you get into an environment that’s unknown... the nervous system will do the same thing — increases pain, decreases tone, makes you tighter or even spastic, to protect you from your next step.” — Dr. Capobianco (29:42)

Recommended Resources

• RockTape: rocktape.com — Info and purchasing
• RockTape YouTube Channel: Large library of application videos
• Dr. Capobianco (The Movement Advocate): [@themovementadvocate] — Social educational platform
• MS & Kinesiology Tape Blog: Evidence links and further application guides (link in show notes)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Intro to Dr. Capobianco & RockTape: 02:20–06:21
• For Musculoskeletal vs. Neurological Use: 06:21–08:17
• What is Kinesiology Tape? Application Visual: 10:10–13:37
• Neurological Mechanism of Action: 14:05–17:58
• Tape for Sensory Loss & Balance (Study reference): 20:48–22:41
• Clinical Experience: Spasticity, Frozen Shoulder: 22:41–25:54
• Predictive Processing in MS: 26:25–30:57
• Practice, Layering Tape with Movement Training: 32:07–34:35
• DIY Taping; Brand Guidance: 35:03–37:01
• Safety & Contraindications: 38:32–43:48
• Practical Use for Foot Drop/Specific Deficits: 44:37–48:27
• Journaling, Mindful Awareness: 48:40–51:05
• Resource Summation & Wrap-up: 52:56–54:09

Takeaways

• Kinesiology tape offers a low-risk, potentially high-reward adjunct for many MS symptoms, especially those related to balance, muscle coordination, and sensation.
• Application is simple and can often be done at home; safety precautions are easy to follow.
• Its best use is when combined with physical rehab or movement practice—not as a replacement.
• The technique is based on the science of sensory input and the body’s predictive nervous system, not just structural support.

For further learning and video demonstrations, listeners are invited to join Dr. Capobianco’s upcoming demo with the Missing Link community and to consult the resources listed above.

“Movement is the medicine — not all these tools, even though I represent a brand that has all these tools.” — Dr. Capobianco (53:21)