Using Proprioception to Enhance Rehabilitation
What is Proprioception?
Proprioception refers to the body's ability to sense movement within joints and joint position. This ability enables us to know where our limbs are in space without having to look. It is important in all everyday movements but especially so in complicated sporting movements, where precise coordination is essential. This coordinated movement is a result of the normal functioning of the proprioceptive system.
What is the Proprioceptive System?
The proprioceptive system is made up of receptor nerves that are positioned in the muscles, joints and ligaments around joints. The receptors can sense tension and stretch and pass this information to the brain where it is processed. The brain then responds by signalling to muscles to contract or relax in order to produce the desired movement.
This system is subconscious, and we don't have to think about the movements or the corrections to movement. Sometimes the reactions take place so fast they are termed reflexive.
Following injury to joints and ligaments the receptors are also damaged, which means the information that is usually sent to the brain is impaired. As a consequence the joint feels odd or just doesn't feel right.
What are the Benefits?
Once a joint has been damaged, or a ligament has been torn or partially torn, there will be a deficit in the proprioceptive ability of the individual. This can leave the person prone to re-injury, or decrease their coordination during sport. Proprioceptive ability can be trained through specific exercises and, in the case of the injured athlete, the improvement can compensate for the loss caused by injury. This has the effect of decreasing the chances of re-injury. Proprioception also helps speed an athlete's return to competition following injury. The exercises should be initiated as soon as possible following injury.
Related Articles
Recommended Products for Sprained Ankle Injury
Ankle Supports & Braces
Protection & Compression
Ice Packs & Cold Therapy
Rehabilitation Kit
Taping & Strapping
Protection & Compression
Ice Packs & Cold Therapy
Rehabilitation Kit
Taping & Strapping
Ankle Supports & Braces
PhysioRoom.com Adjustable Ankle Support
Our Price
£12.99
NEW!Superb value adjustable ankle support. Lightweight and low cut to fit perfectly in your footwear,...
Be seen at night!£FREE Reflective Snap Band
McDavid Ultra-Lite Ankle Brace (with Figure 8 strap)
Our Price
£27.99
Sports ankle brace with ultra light nylon shell and lace up 'figure of 8' Velcro fastenings. Great for sprained ankle treatment...
Aircast A60 Ankle Brace
Our Price
£49.99 £44.99
As worn by Tennis star Andrew Murray. Our most lightweight, minimal bulk sports ankle brace....
(2 reviews)
Mueller Soccer Ankle Support
Our Price
£14.99
Designed for football this lightweight and low cut ankle support fits perfectly in your football boot or trainer. Has criss-cross...
Be seen at night!£FREE Reflective Snap Band
FREE Drinks Bottle with this item on orders > £50Vulkan Ankle Brace
Our Price
£26.99 £22.99
Premium quality neoprene ankle support with adjustable 'figure of 8' Velcro™strap for tightening to a custom fit....
FREE Vulkan Bottle with this item on orders > £50Donjoy Drytex Rocketsoc
Our Price
£54.99
Lightweight Drytex material sports ankle brace with Velcro™ straps for a perfect fit like a taped ankle. Ideal for those...
Vulkan Silicon Ankle Support
Our Price
£21.99 £17.99
Silicon lined ankle support for ankle injury treatment and sports use. Provides warmth and...
(1 review)
FREE Vulkan Bottle with this item on orders > £50Protection & Compression
PhysioRoom.com Sprains & Strains Repair Kit
Our Price
£14.91 £9.96
Essential ice and compression kit to relieve pain, reduce swelling and speed up recovery following a sports injury, muscle...
Be seen at night!£FREE Reflective Snap Band
Donjoy NEXSTEP Shortie Walker with Air
Our Price
£89.99
A short walking brace for protected walking on foot and ankle injuries. Features inflatable air...
(1 review)
Aircast SP Walker
Our Price
£104.99 £94.99
BEST SELLER!As worn by Wayne Rooney! Short pneumatic walking brace to speed up...
(2 reviews)
Donjoy Walkabout
Our Price
£69.99 £59.99
A simple moulded plastic walker that allows early walking on sprained ankles, Tibial stress fractures and stable ankle fractures....
WHEATeeze Ankle & Foot Warmer/Cooler
Our Price
£24.99
Fabric pack that contains sterilised natural wheat which conducts heat and cold. Can be put in the microwave or freezer to...
Aircast XP Walker
Our Price
£144.99 £122.99
Pneumatic walking brace for a broken shin or broken ankle. Reduces shin and ankle swelling and speeds up healing....
Ice Packs & Cold Therapy
PhysioRoom.com Instant Ice Pack
Our Price 1+ £1.99
6+ £1.49
12+ £0.99
24+
SAVE UP TO 75%!A mouldable pack that becomes an instant ice pack, without the need for refrigeration. ...
Be seen at night!£FREE Reflective Snap Band
PhysioRoom.com Reusable Hot/Cold Gel Pack (Regular)
Our Price 1+ £3.99
6+ £2.39
12+ £1.99
24+
SAVE UP TO 60%!Reusable, 12cm x 25cm (5" x 10") mouldable gel pack that can be used as a cold pack or hot pack. ...
Be seen at night!£FREE Reflective Snap Band
Aircast Ankle Cryo/Cuff with Cooler
Our Price
£139.99 £99.99
Ultimate ankle ice therapy; provides 6 hours continuous cold and compression to minimise bleeding, swelling and pain. ...
Rehabilitation Kit
Exercise Band Pack
Our Price
£12.99
Superb value, 8 x 1m length resistance bands in all 4 varying strengths, for use during rehab exercises for the shoulder, ankle,...
Fitter First Classic Balance Board
Our Price
£28.99
NEW!High quality 16" (40cm) diameter plastic balance board / wobble board...
(1 review)
Fitter First Professional Wobble Board
Prices from
£57.99 £49.99
NEW!Wooden wobble board with adjustable difficulty levels for advanced rehabilitation and core...
Inflatable Stability Disc
Our Price
£19.99
An inflatable disc, with exercise guide and pump. Level of inflation can be changed to vary the difficulty of balance & stability...
Fitter First Bongo Balance Board
Our Price
£83.99 £71.99
NEW!An advanced balance trainer for injury prevention. Ideal for all sports especially snowboarding and...
Gymnic Disc'o'Sport Wobble Cushion
Our Price
£32.99
NEW!Large disc shaped air cushion for balance training and rehabilitation. Measures 55cm in diameter....
Gymnic Core Balance
Our Price
£64.99
NEW!Inflatable 40cm pvc dome on a rigid base. For balance and rehab exercises....
Gymnic Movin'Step
Our Price
£30.99
NEW!Air filled step cushions with connected air chambers for balance exercises. Measures 35cm x 35cm....
AquaJogger 100 Floatation Belt
Our Price
£39.99 £26.99
The AquaJogger 100 is a floatation belt. One particular benefit is that it allows an early return...
(1 review)
Taping & Strapping
Mueller M-Wrap Foam Underwrap
Our Price 1+ £1.99
6+ £1.79
12+
SAVE UP TO 20%!Foam underwrap that can be applied before a tape job to prevent...
(1 review)
Be seen at night!£FREE Reflective Snap Band
FREE Drinks Bottle with this item on orders > £50PhysioRoom.com 4cm Trainers Tape
Our Price 1+ £3.99
6+ £2.39
12+ £1.99
24+
SAVE UP TO 60%!PhysioRoom
.com Zinc Oxide Trainer's Tape has been developed by sports medicine experts. Its...
Be seen at night!£FREE Reflective Snap Band
PhysioRoom.com Taping Starter Kit
Our Price
£20.91 £14.96
SAVE 28%!Perfect for all taping and strapping techniques. This Taping Starter Kit includes 7 rolls of 4...
Be seen at night!£FREE Reflective Snap Band
Injury A to Z
Injury By Sport
Our Credentials
Information
& Expertise
You Can Trust
All medical information at PhysioRoom.com is provided by Chartered Physiotherapists, who specialise in sports medicine.
Why Shop With Us?
100% Secure
Shopping
Shopping
Money Back
Guarantee
Guarantee
£FREE Delivery
Orders Over £65
Orders Over £65
NEXT DAY Delivery
Order By 2pm
Order By 2pm
FREE Guides
Expert Injury Help
Expert Injury Help
Newsletter
Receive our latest news and offers.
Safe Shopping
We use full 128-bit encryption technology to keep your order and payment details safe.
© Copyright PhysioRoom.com 2001-2009. All rights reserved. Sitemap.
IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTICE
The articles on this web site are provided for general information only and should not be used as a basis for diagnosis or treatment. All exercises and information featured on this web site should only be practised under the supervision of a qualified healthcare professional.
We accept the following payment methods
PhysioRoom.com Limited, Unit 1 & 2 Dawson Court, Billington Road, Burnley, Lancashire BB11 5UB, England
- Sitemaps
- Sitemap,
- Product Sitemap,
- XML Sitemap
- Advertise on PhysioRoom.com
- Download our Media Pack (250KB PDF File)
- Product Categories
- Supports & Braces, Hot & Cold Therapy, First Aid, Taping & Strapping, Foot Care, Rehab & Fitness, Massage, Back & Neck Care, Sports Clothing & Accessories
Anatomy Images
All figures marked © Martin Dunitz 2001 have been taken from Sports Injuries: Their Prevention and Treatment, 3rd Edition, by Lars Peterson and Per Renstrom, published by Martin Dunitz Ltd.
www.dunitz.co.uk
Sports Injury & Physiotherapy Search Marketing by Epiphany.
0.53
Your Shopping Basket