Proprioception, the “sixth sense” that is important for our balance, varies from person to person. Did you know?
How do our bodies know how to put themselves in their place without us thinking?
This gift is based on proprioception, a sensory system that allows us to walk, run, and even stand without losing our balance. But not everyone has the same sixth sense, and research presented by The Conversation suggests that this difference can be especially beneficial when it comes to health and injury prevention.
What is proprioception?
Proprioception is a sensory system that allows us to sense the position, movement and force of our limbs, even if we can’t see them. It relies on mechanical sensors in our muscles, tendons and joints.
This information is analyzed by the central nervous system to create a three-dimensional “map” of the body, which is important for maintaining balance and coordination between our movements.
Capacity varies from person to person
Contrary to popular belief, the quality of proprioception is not the same across the population. Some people can adapt the use of this understanding to their own situation.
For example, they provide important information about the body rather than the ankle on unstable surfaces. However, nearly a third of people do not have this mutation, putting them at risk for injury or chronic pain such as back pain.
Limitations to compensation strategies
When proprioception is impaired, such as after an injury, the body uses compensatory strategies to maintain balance. For example, a person experiencing shock to their lower limbs will use their body’s signals. These changes are effective, but they are not perfect. They limit the ability to solve complex problems and can lead to long-term conflicts.
Can we improve our needs?
The good news: Proprioception can be trained. Specific exercises, such as balancing on one leg, repetitions, or applying vibration to the muscles, can improve the quality of proprioceptive signals. These methods are already used for injury prevention and treatment, but research is aimed at improving these methods to increase their effectiveness.
