The Sense: Muscles
(Proprioceptive Processing)
What is Proprioception?
Proprioception is the perception of sensations from the muscles, joints and tendons. This sensory information tells the brain when and how muscles and joints are moving. Utilizing this sense, we are able to have body awareness and figure out where parts of our body are in space without the use of vision to help us move our limbs in purposeful ways.
What would I see if my child has difficulty processing proprioceptive information?
Over Reactive Proprioceptive System-overly sensitive to this input
This child may:
o Have tense muscles
o Be stiff with uncoordinated movements, lacking fluidity, rigid
o Lock joints to stabilize movement
Under Reactive Proprioceptive System-decreased sensitivity to this input
This child may:
o Deliberately bump and crash into things
o Press hard on pencil/markers
o Slap feet down when walking
o Bang a stick or other objects on wall or fence when walking
o Bite or suck on fingers
o Chew constantly on objects (i.e. shirt, sleeves, toys, etc.)
o Have difficulty doing things without vision
o Have difficulty lifting heavy things, weak grasp, poor endurance
o Hang on objects or people often
o Seek rough play and frequently falls intentionally
o Be clumsy
o Seek increased pressure by pulling T-shirt over knees or chin, sitting on feet, or kicking desk legs when seated
o Uses heavy pressure when drawing or writing, often breaking tips of writing utensils
o Take excessive risks during play (jumping off furniture, etc.)
o Grind teeth and/or walks on toes
o Have a high pain threshold, not crying when falling hard enough to be hurt
o Seek deep pressure activities, such as snuggling under heavy blankets
o Have difficulty grading pressure when handling objects or has a weak grasp
What can I do to help support my child at home?
q Heavy work activities can be incorporated into every day tasks, whether it is helping carrying in the groceries to helping push a younger child in a swing.
q Deep pressure and heavy work activities tend to be calming and help a child have a better awareness of his/her body because of the sensory information given to the joints during such tasks.
q Motor activities such as wheelbarrow walking, jumping, hopping, somersaults, and crab walking all give proprioceptive input.
q Resistive play such as push/pull games, pulling wagons and tug of war can all be effective.
q Hide toys under couch cushions so that children have to lift them to retrieve. Also with the cushions, you can play the “sandwich” game having the child lie between (head sticking out) and using firm pressure to “squish” the sandwich together.
q During transitions between activities, introduce a higher sensory activity than just walking. Stomping, hopping, clapping hands, and marching are good transition movements.
q If you have access to a pool, water is a great resistive medium.
q Obstacle courses at home: think over, under, through, in, between, out of, down, and over.
GENERAL RULE:
- Movement that incorporates heavy work and/or resistance to the muscles can be calming (i.e. carrying, pushing, and pulling heavy things).
- Quick movements of the body may be alerting (i.e. kicking balls, jumping, twirling arms from side to side).
When a child participates in proprioceptive activities, often they are more easily able to handle other input.