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
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...
FREE Drinks Bottle with this item on orders > £50
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. Provides a winning combination of...
Vulkan Silicon Ankle Support
Our Price
£21.99 £17.99
Silicon lined ankle support for ankle injury treatment and sports use. Provides warmth and compression to speed up healing and...
FREE Vulkan Boot Bag 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 Boot Bag 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...
Protection & Compression
PhysioRoom.com Sprains & Strains Repair Kit
Our Price
£14.94 £9.99
Essential ice and compression kit to relieve pain. Designed to reduce swelling and speed up recovery following a sports injury,...
Donjoy NEXSTEP Shortie Walker with Air
Our Price
£89.99
NEW!A short walking brace for protected walking on foot and ankle injuries. Features inflatable air...
Aircast SP Walker
Our Price
£104.99 £94.99
BEST SELLER!As worn by Wayne Rooney! Short pneumatic walking brace to speed up healing of foot and ankle...
Donjoy Walkabout
Our Price
£69.99 £59.99
NEW!A simple moulded plastic walker that allows early walking on sprained ankles, Tibial stress...
WHEATeeze Ankle & Foot Warmer/Cooler
Our Price
£24.99
Fabric pack that contains wheat. Can be put in the microwave or freezer to provide a hot or cold pack for the feet. Soothing...
Aircast XP Walker
Our Price
£144.99 £122.99
SPEEDS UP HEALING!Pneumatic walking brace for a broken shin or broken ankle. Reduces shin and ankle swelling and...
Ice Packs & Cold Therapy
PhysioRoom.com Instant Ice Pack
Our Price 1+ £1.99
6+ £1.19
12+ £0.99
24+
SAVE UP TO 60%!A mouldable pack that becomes an instant therapeutic ice pack, without the need for refrigeration....
PhysioRoom.com Reusable Hot/Cold Gel Pack (Regular)
Our Price 1+ £3.99
6+ £2.39
12+ £1.99
24+
SAVE UP TO 60%! Mouldable gel packs for use as either a therapeutic cold pack or hot pack - measures 12cm x 25cm...
Aircast Ankle Cryo/Cuff with Cooler
Our Price
£139.99 £99.99
The ultimate ankle ice therapy device; provides 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,...
Wooden Wobble Board
Our Price
£39.99 £29.99
A very robust 35cm diameter wooden Wobble Board with an anti-slip top. Tilts around a full 360 degrees for the ultimate balance...
AquaJogger 100 Floatation Belt
Our Price
£39.99 £26.99
A floatation belt that allows an early return to activity in the swimming pool. Early non weight bearing cardiovascular...
PhysioRoom.com Sprained Ankle Repair Kit
Our Price
£69.96
FREE KIT WORTH 14.94!Everything you need for sprained ankle rehabilitation, including resistance bands for ankle...
Rocker Board (14 degrees)
Our Price
£64.99 £49.99
High quality birch Rocker Board with a restricted tilt angle and tilting in 2 directions only (back & forth, side to side) for...
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 chafing - ideal for sensitive...
FREE Drinks Bottle with this item on orders > £50PhysioRoom.com 3.8cm 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...
PhysioRoom.com Taping Starter Kit
Our Price
£20.94 £14.99
SAVE 28%!Perfect for all taping and strapping techniques. This Taping Starter Kit includes 7 rolls of 4...
LEARN
Injury A to Z
Newsletter
Receive our latest news and offers.
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.
Safe Shopping
We use full 128-bit encryption technology to keep your order and payment details safe.
SHOP
Shopping Basket
0 Items
£0.00
Search Products
Browse Products
© Copyright PhysioRoom.com 2001-2008. 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 most major credit/debits cards
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 (230KB PDF File).
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.
0.22
