What The Heck Does Proprioception Mean Anyways?

The true definition of health is, simply put, the brain’s ability to receive and respond to information (stimulation) from it’s environment. The brain, like every other cell, organ, or tissue, requires various nutrients to survive and thrive. These nutrients include the most important and perhaps the most obvious, oxygen and water. But did you know that our brains also require stimulation?

Primary afferent stimulation is the #1 source of stimulation to the brain and it comes via joint mechanoreceptors through proprioception. That’s a mouthful!

Proprioception is your body’s recognition and response to where it is in space and it represents up to 90% of brain activity at any given time! That’s a lot! Proprioceptors are concentrated primarily in our joint capsules and to a lesser extent, the surrounding tendons and muscles. It is through motion (stretching, and compression) in these tissues that the activation of these receptors are triggered.

So, what does this have to do with chiropractic?? The greatest concentration of mechanoreceptors / proprioceptors are found around spinal joints. The greatest of those, around the cervical and the lumbo-sacral/pelvic joints. (two of the most common areas for spinal problems)

• This stimulation is key to proper neuronal, and therefore, brain function.
• Loss of motion results in loss of primary afferent stimulation to the brain.
• Restoring motion to a joint, will allow a return of appropriate proprioceptive input from that motor unit(s).
• Proper afferentation = better brain/nervous system function=better health

Now we know that seems like a lot of information to process. Bottom line in plainer terms, keeping our spines healthy is important on so many levels!

We’d love to meet you and help you take care of yours! Book your assessment or follow up appointments HERE.