Just what is proprioception and why is it important in fitness training?
How often have you been in an exercise class or working with your trainer and think you have mastered the technique or position only to find your perception is radically different
from what you should have been doing?
This ability to instinctively sense the orientation of our bodies is known as proprioception, and is stimulated every time you move. It is a constant feedback loop within your nervous system, telling your brain what position you are in and what forces are acting upon your body at any given point in time. An example of proprioception in action is how your body knows how to adjust to the change in surface from walking along the pavement to walking upon a grassy surface.
Proprioception means remembering your A, B, C:
A – Agility – how well you can control the direction of your body, or body part, during rapid movement
B – Balance – how well you can maintain equilibrium by keeping your body’s line of gravity within the body’s base support
C – Co-ordination – how smooth you make the activity by working the muscles with appropriate intensity and timing.
Why is proprioception important?
Proprioception relies on sending information to the brain from specialised receptors within the joints and soft tissues, visual input from the eyes, tactile input from touch and the functioning of the balance apparatus in the ears, to provide a sense of body position, balance and stability. Depending upon the body’s efficiency of this process, it then makes adjustments as necessary, to enable a person to walk, run, jump, reach and climb as precisely as possible and to limit the possibility of falling over.
It is even more important when taking part in sports or other physical activities where precise movements, agility, co-ordination and strength are required, in order to prevent injuries.
If injury occurs, proprioception can be retrained back to the level that the individual requires, as long as proprioceptive training is included in their rehabilitation process. If proprioception is not addressed following an injury, the body area concerned is not only less efficient at providing the brain with the essential information it needs to function effectively, but is also placed at risk of re-injury potentially leading to chronic joint problems.
How Combat Arts use proprioception
It is possible to train people to develop their proprioceptive abilities, in the same way that they can train for endurance or strength. Proprioceptive exercise progresses with skill and complexity. The aim being to gradually perform more challenging actions whilst maintaining movement accuracy,
And this is precisely what Gordon advocates in all his training.
By going back to basics and focussing on the quality of the motion and not the quantity of muscle work, Gordon’s students are being corrected less and learning at an accelerated rate. This results in them seeing improved results faster.
If you are interested in focussing on quality to see faster results contact Gordon about 121, small group training and his 6-week introduction to martial arts now.
