What Proprioception is
Proprioception is the conscious and unconscious awareness of body position and movement. The proprioceptive system is the muscle and joint sense that tells the brain:
- when and how the muscles are contracting or stretching
- when and how the joints are flexing, extending or being pulled and pushed
- what the body parts are doing and where they are in space
- the force muscles are exerting
| Potential signs | Potential impact | Strategies to assist with learning |
|---|---|---|
| Potential signsStiff unco-ordinated movements | Potential impact | Strategies to assist with learningActivity that involves heavy muscle work – such as Yoga, animal walks, pushing against the wall. |
| Potential signsRegularly bumping into things, falling over, thus accidently hurting themselves or others. | Potential impactAvoiding physical activities: may be seen mainly sitting, avoid participation in PE, avoid play structures. | Strategies to assist with learning |
| Potential signsAppear ‘falling over air’ | Potential impact | Strategies to assist with learning |
| Potential signsPoor spatial awareness, unaware of obstacles in pathway, difficulty moving. | Potential impact | Strategies to assist with learning |
| Potential signsStruggle with activities that require spatial awareness such as puzzles, copy model, building in blocks. | Potential impact | Strategies to assist with learningPractising movement without visual feedback – with closed eyes |