What is Proprioception and why is it important?

When you were in grade school you were probably taught that humans have five senses: touch, taste, smell, sight and hearing. Actually, we have many more senses than this. We are also able to sense pain, pressure, changes in temperature and changes in how our body parts relate to each other and to gravity. This last sense is called proprioception.

All of us with scoliosis usually experience ourselves as being upright, when the reality is that we have curves in our spines that makes us not quite as upright as we feel. Does a curved spine also cause inaccurate proprioception, or is faulty proprioception the root cause of scoliosis? Research hasn’t been able to answer this question or provide an exact reason why how scoliosis occurs.

In my own study of different methods of scoliosis treatment and my efforts to stop the progression of my curve, I’ve noticed that improving my proprioception has been an important part of correcting my posture. Posture correction is at the heart of my scoliosis treatment approach, and posture correction will be as successful as your proprioception is accurate. Improving proprioception and posture are essential to scoliosis treatment.

What do I mean by posture?

My goal for myself and for my clients is to create a symmetrical and upright posture. When I use the word posture, I’m thinking not just about being upright and symmetrical in standing still, but also in any position I may be in or any movement that I may be doing. Sometimes I use the expression “posture and coordination” to communicate fully what I mean by posture. Improved posture is an active part of our movement life that has no fixed position. I’m also not particularly committed to having “good” posture and far less to “perfect” posture. There is always room for improvement and I am constantly trying to improve. Trying to hold on to “good posture” sounds like the kind of activity that is likely to make me more rigid.

Scoliosis Work is Posture and Proprioception Work

Scoliosis treatment begins and ends with your posture. If you are able to maintain an upright, symmetrical posture and a balanced coordination I believe that your chances of avoiding curve progression are very good. My own posture has been continually improving over many years and I think that this is the reason why my spine has become straighter. I wish the same success for you.