Kinesthetic/Stretch
Kinesthetic is the study of the body's perception of its position and movement in space. Cultivation of Kinesthetic related training encourages better balance and spatial organization.
Kinesthetic is also a study of the body's tactile and sensory abilities. Mastery and practice encourage coordinated body activities, including stretching and better hand-eye coordination. Stretching also increases full range of motion and is the muscle's kinesthetic memory.
We will discuss physical exercises that increases Kinesthetics and improve upon sensory, spatial and motion movements for wellness and longevity.
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Proprioceptors: Action Sequence
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Proprioception: Perception of Space
Author: Rose D.
Proprioception is the body’s ability to sense stimuli and the limb's position and limb movement in space. Proprioception depends on the relationship between the central nervous system (CNS) and sensory receptors called proprioceptors.
The interpretation of stimuli provides the body’s position, motion, and equilibrium. Our bodies' intuitive and interconnected abilities have led many to believe that proprioception is the 6th sense, including balance, coordination, and agility.
Proprioceptors are located within soft tissues like muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joints. Proprioceptors are wrapped with sensory nerve endings and can sense when tissues are activated through stretch, tension, and pressure. Information from proprioceptors is relayed to and from the central nervous system.
The information explains the body’s critical interaction with the environment and allows for precise and fluid movements. This is especially important for both athletes and non-athletes.
Once stimuli are interpreted it initiates an involuntary action such as; lifting a kettlebell over your head without looking at the kettlebell, pushing a barbell over the chest without constantly staring at the position of your hands, or balancing on a bosu ball while extending your arms in front. These activities are initiated and carried out without having to look at the limb that is doing the action. This is proprioception in action.
Proprioception can be improved through training, such as balancing on wobble boards, and exercise balls, and training on uneven surfaces. Many bodyweight exercises could be described as proprioception training when they incorporate activities that involve balancing on one leg.
Proprioception training is heavily used in physical rehabilitation programs, as damaged tissues, can affect normal function and result in a loss of proprioception. Concerns around diminished proprioception include; age degenerated fall prevention/precautions, recurrence of chronicity of an acute injury, and joint damage, which can lead to arthritis and tendinopathy. These concerns describe the importance of cultivating proprioception; whether, for athletic prowess, age-related muscle, and joint degeneration for recovery and improvement from injury.
References:
[1] (2009). Reference Module in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Psychology, Encyclopedia of Neuroscience, 1143-
1149.
[2] Riva, Dario et al. (2018). Effects of High-Frequency Proprioceptive Training on Single Stance Stability in Older
Adults: Implications for Fall Prevention. BioMed Research International, 1-10.
[3] Wolff, Phillip and Jason Shepard (2013). Chapter Five - Causation, Touch, and the Perception of Force. Psychology
of Learning and Motivation, Elsevier, 58:167-202.
