What is proprioception?

Proprioception refers to the body's ability to perceive its own position in space. It involves sensory information from muscles, joints, and skin that helps the brain understand where limbs are relative to one another and the body as a whole. This allows for adjustments in movements, balance correction, and coordination. Proprioception is essential for daily activities and is engaged when one is involved in exercises or tasks that are not structured, such as sports or outdoor activities, because it requires responding to the external environment and adapting to varying foot placements or other changing conditions 1. Furthermore, Andrew Huberman also notes that muscle spindles sense stretch and help maintain balance and prevent falls, as they trigger contractions in response to being stretched, which assists in correcting body position automatically 2.

In addition to maintaining balance and coordination, proprioception is also involved in skill learning, as it is one of the three components, along with sensory perception and movements, that are necessary for any skill involving motor movement 3. The proprioceptive feedback is important for understanding where our limbs are throughout movements and for making necessary adjustments. When proprioception is disrupted, such as when a limb falls asleep, we become acutely aware of our movements and may have to pay more attention to steps and balance 4.