Proprioception, often referred to as the "sixth sense," is the body's ability to perceive its location, movements, and actions. It is the automatic, subconscious process that allows your brain to understand your body's position in space, without relying solely on visual input. Sir Charles Sherrington coined the term "proprioception" combining the Latin "proprius" (one's own) and "perception". This sense is crucial for maintaining balance, coordinating movements, and knowing how much force to use for different tasks.
The receptors for proprioception are located in muscles, joints, ligaments, skin, and bones. Proprioception is essential for both simple tasks like eating with a spoon and complex skills like performing a backflip. Issues with proprioception can manifest as clumsiness, difficulty judging force, or seeking intense sensory experiences like crashing into furniture. Activities that involve pushing, pulling, squeezing, climbing, lifting, or stretching can stimulate the proprioceptive sense, helping to calm and organize the brain and nervous system.
