Proprioception: An evidence-based review

Abstract

Background

Proprioception is an essential sensory function of the body. Proprioception is defined as one’s awareness of their body’s position and movement through space. It contributes to both the conscious and unconscious awareness of limb and trunk position and movement. The purpose of this review is to provide an evidence-based review of proprioception and conditions that interfere with proprioceptive acuity.

Purpose

The purpose of this review is to provide an evidence-based review of proprioception and conditions that interfere with proprioceptive acuity.

Study Design

This narrative literature review examines studies that determine proprioceptive systems and their implication for rehabilitation.

Methods

Relevant study data were extracted as part of this review.

Results

Types of proprioceptive interventions can include active or passive movement training, somatosensory stimulation training, force reproduction, and somatosensory discrimination training. Joint position sense error is the most widely used objective measure of proprioception.

Conclusions

Therapists should consider using a standardized measure to ascertain proprioceptive deficits in their patients following upper extremity injury or disease to determine the deficits and measure change. There are a variety of interventions that can be used in hand rehabilitation to restore proprioceptive acuity, and active movement interventions have been found to be the most effective.