Proprioception is the ‘sixth sense’ — the body’s ability to sense its own position, movement and force through receptors in muscles, tendons, joints and skin. It underpins balance, coordination, agility and athletic movement quality. Proprioception is trainable — balance boards, unstable surfaces, single-leg exercises and reactive movements all develop proprioceptive skill. After an ankle sprain or joint injury, proprioceptive deficits often outlast pain and swelling, increasing re-injury risk — proprioceptive retraining is a key component of injury rehabilitation. Improved proprioception reduces injury risk in team sports significantly.
Key points
- Sense of body position and movement in space
- Receptors in muscles, tendons, joints and skin
- Highly trainable through balance and unstable surface work
- Critical in injury rehab (often impaired post-injury)