Balance and Proprioception

Proprioception is good balance

Control and excellent movement are achieved through balance, and all movements are built on the foundation of balance.

Proprioception is the sense that allows us to perceive our body’s position and movement, as well as our sense of equilibrium and balance, both of which are dependent on the concept of force. It is the perception that allows us to sense our body’s position and movement. Thus, proprioception assists us in controlling and directing our movements, giving us the possibility to move correctly, position our bodies in the appropriate space, and control our movements effortlessly.

As its receptors are embedded in connective tissue, proprioception is frequently impaired in connective tissue disorders. Poor proprioception can cause joint instabilities, resulting in injuries, pain, and difficulty walking. It also puts more strain on the brain to compensate, which can lead to fatigue or brain fog. Despite this, we rarely give Proprioception a second thought. We do not consider our body’s position in space, but it can change in the blink of an eye.

Unexpected traumatic events can impair body awareness and make life miserable, which is why proprioception training is so important. Proprioceptive exercises stimulate and develop proprioceptive receptors, and proprioception aids in joint stabilization during static and dynamic functional tasks. Skin, muscles, and joints contain proprioceptive receptors. They include limb position and movement senses.

Proprioception can be trained, and it can range from simple balance training to magnetic stimulation. There are various types of exercises involved in proprioceptive training. Active and passive movement, somatosensory stimulation, and somatosensory discrimination training are all options to consider when thinking of training one’s proprioception.

You will have to move your limbs or your entire body for these types of exercises, so you will be able to reduce your anxiety and fear of falling. When performed on a regular basis, these exercises can significantly improve your Proprioception while also decreasing pain. When a person is not ready to begin full-body exercises that require effort and strength, they can begin with a passive range of motion (flexing, bending into the palm and then straighten them, etc.)

The afferent nerves and their receptors that generate proprioception are embedded in the tissues of our musculoskeletal system, in our muscles, tendons, ligaments, joint capsules, and cartilage. They send information to the brain about how much tension or pressure is being applied to them, and how quickly it changes. The brain uses this information to figure out where everything is in our body. Problems with proprioception entail misinformation of the receptors. This incorrect information relayed to the brain explains why the person has difficulties assimilating their environment and their space.