Proprioception is your body’s ability to sense its own position, balance, and movement without relying on your own vision.
Some people call proprioception your “sixth” sense, because it allows you to know where all your limbs are, how your body is orientated, and how much force you’re applying without looking.
Some good examples of proprioception are:
- Touching your nose when your eyes are closed.
- Walking without looking down or watching your feet, your brain already knows where your legs and feet are.
What’s the science behind proprioception?
Proprioception works within a subconscious communication network.
The information starts with specialised sensory receptors called proprioceptors, which are found in your muscles, tendons, and joints. These receptors constantly monitor the stretching of your muscle fibers, the tension in your tendons, and the angles of your joints.
These receptors relay continuous data about your body’s position up to the brain and spinal cord. This continuous stream of information is known as proprioceptive feedback.
The brain then interprets these signals and sends instant, unconscious instructions back to your muscles, telling them to adjust, contract, or relax to maintain stability and execute movement.
This constant proprioceptive feedback loop is why you can type without looking at the keyboard or walk down a flight of stairs without consciously thinking about every step.
Balance and proprioception
Proprioception doesn’t work on its own; it’s one part of a three-part system responsible for maintaining balance.
This trio includes:
- Vision
Knowing where you are in relation to your surroundings.
- The Vestibular System
Located in your inner ear, this tells your brain about your head’s orientation and motion.
- Proprioception
Telling your brain about the position and force of your limbs.
Proprioception allows you to react instantly to external forces, for example:
- If you step onto a wobbly cobblestone, your ankle muscles contract automatically to stabilise your joint before you even register the movement.
- When you walk into a dark room, your proprioceptive sense becomes even more vital, helping you maintain equilibrium when visual cues are limited.
What is proprioception disorder?
When there is a breakdown or a loss in your essential sensory system, this is typically known as a proprioception disorder. This can range from mild clumsiness to severe loss of coordination.
Some of the most common causes of proprioception disorder are:
Injury:
Joint sprains can damage the proprioceptors in your joints, leading to instability.
Neurological conditions:
Diseases like MS (Multiple Sclerosis), Parkinson’s, and Peripheral neuropathy can interrupt your nerve pathways that are used for transmitting proprioceptive feedback.
Ageing:
Like most things in our body and brain, our proprioceptive acuity can deteriorate when we age.
What are the signs of proprioception disorder?
If you or someone you know exhibits the following symptoms, it may indicate a loss of proprioception or proprioception disorder:
- Clumsiness: Feeling uncoordinated, tripping often, or frequently bumping into objects.
- Difficulty with Eyes Closed: Having trouble balancing or touching a target (like your nose) without visual input.
- Poor Force Judgment: Dropping objects or writing with excessive pressure because you can’t properly gauge the force needed.
- Reliance on Vision: Needing to constantly look at your feet when walking or watch your hand while performing a task.
How Osteopathy Helps with Proprioception Disorder
Osteopaths are highly trained professionals who view the body as an integrated whole. When addressing a proprioception disorder or loss of proprioception, their approach focuses not just on the symptoms (like clumsiness) but on identifying and treating the underlying physical and neurological restrictions that are interfering with the proprioceptive feedback loop.
Osteopathy works to enhance your body’s proprioceptive sense through several key methods:
- Restoring Joint Mobility and Alignment:
Proprioceptors are primarily located in your joints and muscles. If a joint is restricted, misaligned, or stiff, the sensory information it sends to the brain becomes distorted or interrupted. Osteopathic treatment uses gentle, specific manual techniques (like articulation, mobilisation, or manipulation) to restore optimal joint movement and alignment.
- Addressing Muscle and Connective Tissue Tension:
Chronically tight or spasmed muscles can also send misleading signals. Osteopaths use deep tissue massage and stretching techniques to release tension in key muscle groups, tendons, and fascia. By normalising muscle tone, they improve the quality of the proprioceptive feedback being sent to the central nervous system.
- Improving Posture and Body Awareness:
Treatment often includes identifying and correcting poor postural habits that contribute to imbalance. By improving spinal and whole-body mechanics, the osteopath helps retrain the nervous system to better sense and maintain a stable, centred posture.
- Prescribing Proprioceptive Rehabilitation Exercises:
A crucial part of the osteopathic treatment plan involves personalised exercises designed to challenge and retrain the proprioceptive system. These might include balance drills on unstable surfaces, specific coordination movements, or exercises to improve joint position sense. This active approach strengthens the proprioceptive loop, helping the brain and body communicate more effectively.
Experiencing a loss in proprioception? Get help with Carl Todd clinics
Proprioception is a fundamental sensory ability that underpins every physical action we take. A healthy proprioceptive sense means better balance, greater coordination, and reduced risk of injury. While a proprioception disorder can be frustrating, the system is adaptable, and with the right intervention, you can regain control and confidence in your movement.
If you suspect a loss of proprioception or are struggling with balance, contact The Carl Todd Clinic for an expert assessment and a personalised plan to help you move better and live confidently.
Book an appointment or get in touch with us today.
