Proprioception is the mechanism by which your body recognises movement and position- you should know where your body parts are in relation to each other without having to look! This is vital for hand-eye coordination and essential for any sport or exercise. Information is conveyed from special receptors in the joints, tendons, ligaments and muscles to the brain.
This is particularly important in the knee and ankle as it enables you to subtly adjust your body weight to walk on slopes and uneven surfaces. If you have sprained your ankle in the past the ligaments and their proprioceptors will have been over-stretched and you are at a greater risk of re- injury. If it is dark for example and you do not have your vision to compensate you are at increased risk of stumbling and even falling. This is also likely after a knee ligament injury, especially if your cruciate ligaments have been damaged. If you twist or swivel eg on changing direction your knee may give way. It is therefore vital to be assessed and advised by a Chartered Physiotherapist- however long ago the original injury was. The same applies after a whiplash injury, you may inadvertently be holding your head tilted to one side, or you may drift into people when walking on a busy pavement.
Test your own proprioception: Stand on one leg…… then close your eyes. Do you feel unstable and wobble? Is one leg better than the other?
Is your balance generally poor? Are you prone to falls or walking into things? Do you ever feel dizzy?
If the answer to any of these questions is “yes” a Physiotherapist can teach you some very simple exercises to improve this. It is important to address these issues before you hurt yourself.
To see a physiotherapist privately you do not need to be referred by your doctor.
Jo Tait