Chiropractic Care to Improve Proprioception
Amber Erickson, DC, MEEBW
Can you close your eyes and touch your nose? Can you stand on one foot? Balance is very important, but it is something that 
we often take for granted. This is the ability to maintain an upright posture without leaning. Proprioception is knowing where your body joints are in space, without looking. Your body depends on proprioception for everything that you do, from work to play. This is the reason that you know where your foot is when you step without actually watching it step. Joint receptors both in the foot, leg and back will send input in the motion back up into the brain to be processed. Both can be improved and strengthened, with purposeful exercises and with chiropractic care.
we often take for granted. This is the ability to maintain an upright posture without leaning. Proprioception is knowing where your body joints are in space, without looking. Your body depends on proprioception for everything that you do, from work to play. This is the reason that you know where your foot is when you step without actually watching it step. Joint receptors both in the foot, leg and back will send input in the motion back up into the brain to be processed. Both can be improved and strengthened, with purposeful exercises and with chiropractic care.
The proprioceptive system is composed of nerves which are found in joints and in the muscles and ligaments that surround all joints. The function of these nerves is to maintain tone and to sense when stretch is applied to the joint capsule. They then transmit this information up to the brain where it is then processed, so that the body can then be instructed on how to respond. The brain will then send nerve signals down to the appropriate muscles to either contract or relax the relevant muscles and to produce the dictated movement. This happens at a very rapid speed, without conscious thought on our part. This is in part how a reflex works, often the motion is often completed before we are even aware that we are moving.
Good balance is a direct result of a properly functioning proprioceptive system, and a joint injury or restriction can lessen the effectiveness of the entire system. This may be from an acute injury, or from chronic stress and a repetitive injury. As we age, our balance tends to deteriorate. This can lead to an easier chance of injury, and can make us more prone to re-injury of healed locations.
It is possible to increase the proprioceptive feedback from your body to your brain, and this can help an athlete to recover more quickly. It is also possible to improve posture, and to increase our balance so our day to day activities cause less discomfort as we age. The proprioceptive system can be trained and strengthened, both through specific exercises and with chiropractic care. Chiropractors use neurological testing to monitor and test the proprioceptive system, and then to improve on any deficits noted.
There are many exercises designed to improve balance and proprioception. All balance exercises should be began on a flat, even surface. Begin by standing on one leg, and holding your foot at the level of your ankle. Hold this up for five to six seconds, and then repeat ten to twelve times. Once you feel stable doing this exercise, proceed to doing calf raises and mini squats, as well as leg abduction (taking the leg away from the midline) and leg adduction. Lunges are also a great way to strengthen the lower body. Following this with use of a wobble board can then be very beneficial, but requires core strength and practice. All of these exercises can then be performed on the wobble board, 
as long as stability and balance can be maintained. More advanced exercises include running a figure eight pattern, and walking while crossing over your feet. Regular chiropractic care can also significantly help to improve both balance and proprioception to restoring joint motion and improving muscle tone. Kinesiology taping can also be a great way to increase proprioception.
as long as stability and balance can be maintained. More advanced exercises include running a figure eight pattern, and walking while crossing over your feet. Regular chiropractic care can also significantly help to improve both balance and proprioception to restoring joint motion and improving muscle tone. Kinesiology taping can also be a great way to increase proprioception. 