The Proprioceptive System
Proprioceptive input is sensory input to the joints and muscles and is best to do for 20 minutes every 2 hours . Proprioception helps the joints and muscles be "awake" and more responsive to motor control and helps with motor coordination as well as calming the brain. Proprioceptive input also helps with maintaining good muscle tone and coordination. Proprioceptive input is the best source of sensory input to help keep a good balance of serotonin in the brain which helps to regulate all the other brain chemistry and keep a neutral and relaxed learning state. Proprioceptive input is the best type of input to help with sensory modulation & regulation disorders. When proprioception is functioning efficiently, an individual’s body position is automatically adjusted in different situations; for example, the proprioceptive system is responsible for providing the body with the necessary signals to allow us to sit properly in a chair and to step off a curb smoothly. It also allows us to manipulate objects using fine motor movements, such as writing with a pencil, using a spoon to drink soup, and buttoning one’s shirt. Some children can have a difficult time registering proprioceptive information and they may excessively seek it out. |
Proprioceptive Input (Difficulty interpreting sensations from the muscles, joints, ligaments, and tendons)
Knowing where your feet end and the floor begins.
Possible Signs of Proprioceptive processing deficits:
Knowing where your feet end and the floor begins.
- Pulls, twists, or chew on things (i.e. shirt, gum, pencil).
- Frequently breaks toys or hurts classmates when didn’t mean to.
- Leans, bumps, trips or crashes into objects.
- Walks along touching walls.
- Too much pressure when writing (i.e. writes letter over and over again until puts a hole in paper).
- Deliberately falls or crashes into things.
- Constantly seems to “physically tackle” everything.
- Stands too close when talking to others.
- Walks stiff and uncoordinated.
- Pulls on fingers or crack knuckles.
Possible Signs of Proprioceptive processing deficits:
- Clumsiness
- A tendency to fall
- Minimal crawling when young or difficulty crawling
- Difficulty manipulating small objects (buttons, snaps),
- Eating in a sloppy manner
- Resistance to new motor movement activities
- Constantly jumping, crashing, and stomping
- Loves to be squished and get “bear hugs”
- Prefers tight clothing, loves rough-housing, may be aggressive with other children
- Bumps into things often
- Moves in a stiff and/or uncoordinated way
- Doesn’t know how hard to push on an object
- Misjudges the weight of an object
- Breaks objects often
- Rips paper when erasing pencil marks
- May tire easily