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Very Proprioceptive of You!

According to the National Academy of Sports Medicine, proprioceptive forms of training – activities, like balancing on a wobbly surface, that require the body to “self-monitor” and adjust based on subtly shifting physiological signals – are very effective in improving dynamic joint stabilization and functional strength.

But wait, that’s not all! The precise and simultaneous adjustments

in balance, speed and direction involved in proprioceptive exercise require constant and complex input from the brain. As a result, proprioceptive exercise helps build and maintain neuromuscular pathways, which in turn support good reflexes, coordination, balance and muscle tone – all of which tend to decline as we age.

Various forms of proprioceptive training are widely employed in stability and balance-oriented exercise regimens, including most core- and integrated-training protocols, as well as yoga, Tai Chi and Qi Gong. Proprioceptive exercise is appropriate, in one form or another, for people of virtually every age and ability, and may be particularly useful for those who wish to improve their motor skills and cognitive function.