Proprioception

Proprioception: Introduction

Proprioception is the sense of self in relation to time and space (Wilmore, Costill, Kenney, 2008). To achieve this sense of self, the body uses its proprioceptive sensors to gather information based on the foundations of joint angle, muscular tension, and muscular length. The brain constantly engages in a process designed to position our bodies based upon the information it receives from our senses(Hrysomallis, 2011). This ability is made possible because of the existence of proprioceptive processes. Proprioception can be explained as the awareness of movement and body position. Sometimes proprioception is defined as the body’s joint positioning system (Hrysomallis, 2011) .

Effective proprioceptive processes are dependent upon the ability of the brain to integrate information from all of the sensory systems (Wilmore, Costill, Kenney, 2008). These systems are crucial for the individual’s spatial awareness and reactivity to environmental stimuli. Such said systems include feedback from muscles, joints, vision, the tactile sense (touch/pressure) and the sense of balance or vestibular system (Peixoto, Dias & Dias et al, 2011).

Joint stabilization is the ability of muscles that have been appropriately activated to stabilize a joint (Hrysomallis, 2011). The process of joint stabilization/joint positioning is critical to athletic performance and injury prevention. In the article by Paillard, Margness, et al (2011), performance such as balance and neuromuscular control was observed with athletic surfers, who participated in proprioception development exercises. The better spatial control resulted in an increase in athletic skill level. This was also observed in the throwing accuracy in athletes. According to Wassinger, Meyers et al (2007), due to the new muscular recruitment and stability based on proprioceptive development, throwing athletes showed an increase in throwing performance, as oppose to those who did not participate in proprioceptive developing exercises.

Often times an athlete or individual who has suffered multiple knee injuries will assume that he or she has ‘weak’ or “deconditioned” knees. This may not be the case. One may consider the fact that the athlete or individual is probably in excellent physical shape. The more likely scenario that one should consider or investigate is that the joint positioning systems (proprioceptive foundations, systems, and processes) that the brain uses are not positioning the joint properly or effectively in the midst of athletic movements. Over time, this poor joint positioning will lead to decreased sport performance or limited movement, which will ultimately lead to injury (Fischer-Rasmussen & Jenson, 2000). According to Berdthart & Anderson (2005), one way to artificially remedy this is to use prophylactic braces to help improve proprioception. Another solution to this is the more popular method, which according to Walsh & Gandevia (2011), is by improving the brain’s ability to integrate all the information being received from the various senses and formulate appropriate movement responses the chances of poor joint positioning and injury are reduced, by proprioception developing based exercises.

Balance activities such as single leg exercises or multi-planar movements that integrate the visual, auditory, kinesthetic, tactile, and vestibular senses have the effect of improving the proprioceptive processes that help to reduce injuries and improve performance (Fatma, Kaya, et al, 2010). These improvements can be realized because sensory integration activities increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the neural processes in the brain (Sandrey, Bulger, & Wilder 2009). As neural capability and efficiency increases, a variety of other benefits are realized. Timing improves, vision improves, sense of balance improves, mental processing improves, reaction time improves, and proprioception improves (Fonseca, Ocarino et al, 2005). In short, athletic performance improves.

Works Cited

Bernhardt, T., & Anderson, G. S. (2005). INFLUENCE OF MODERATE PROPHYLACTIC COMPRESSION ON SPORT PERFORMANCE. Journal Of Strength & Conditioning Research (Allen Press Publishing Services Inc.), 19(2), 292-297.

Fatma, A., Kaya, M., Baltaci, G., Taşkin, H., & Erkmen, N. (2010). THE EFFECT OF EIGHT-WEEK PROPRIOCEPTION TRAINING PROGRAM ON DYNAMIC POSTURAL CONTROL IN TAEKWONDO ATHLETES. Ovidius University Annals, Series Physical Education & Sport/Science, Movement & Health, 10(1), 93-99.

Fischer-Rasmussen, T. T., & Jensen, P. E. (2000). Proprioceptive sensitivity and performance in anterior cruciate ligament-deficient knee joints. / Sensibilite proprioceptive et performance de l ' articulation du genou atteint d ' une deficience du ligament croise anterieur. Scandinavian Journal Of Medicine & Science In Sports, 10(2), 85-89.

Fonseca, S. T., Ocarino, J. M., Silva, P. P., Guimarães, R., Oliveira, M. T., & Lage, C. A. (2005). Proprioception in Individuals with ACL-Deficient Knee and Good Muscular and Functional Performance. Research In Sports Medicine, 13(1), 47-61.

Hrysomallis, C. (2011). Balance Ability and Athletic Performance. Sports Medicine, 41(3), 221-232.

Lust, K., Sandrey, M., Bulger, S., & Wilder, N. (2009). The effects of 6-week training programs on throwing accuracy, proprioception, and core endurance in baseball. Journal Of Sport Rehabilitation, 18(3), 407-426

Paillard, T., Margnes, E., Portet, M., & Breucq, A. (2011). Postural ability reflects the athletic skill level of surfers. European Journal Of Applied Physiology, 111(8), 1619-1623.

Peixoto, J., Dias, J., Dias, R., da Fonseca, S., & Teixeira-Salmela, L. (2011). Relationships between measures of muscular performance, proprioceptive acuity, and aging in elderly women with knee osteoarthritis. Archives Of Gerontology And Geriatrics, 53(2), e253-e257.

Walsh, L., Taylor, J., & Gandevia, S. (2011). Overestimation of force during matching of externally generated forces. The Journal Of Physiology, 589(Pt 3), 547-557.

Wassinger, C. A., Myers, J. B., Gatti, J. M., Conley, K. M., & Lephart, S. M. (2007). Proprioception and Throwing Accuracy in the Dominant Shoulder After Cryotherapy. Journal Of Athletic Training, 42(1), 84-89.

Wilmore, J., Costill, D., & Kenney, L. (2008). Physiology of sport and exercise. (4 ed.). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.