img_8721

Proprioception and Autism

Jeannie Davide-Rivera aspiewriter.wordpress.com Photo © Lori/Nurse Nerdy on Flickr Creative Commons License [image: person balancing on logs atop water, seen from behind.] So why can I not keep my feet underneath me, or apply the correct amount of pressure when lifting an object? Why do I walk into a room like an elephant in a china shop, or send the milk contain flying across the room when it is too light? In a word — proprioception. What is proprioception? Proprioception refers to one’s own perceptions. It an unconscious perception of movement and spatial orientation controlled by nerves within the body. Our proprioceptive system allows us to locate our bodies in space, to be aware of where our arms and legs are in relation to one another, as well as, where they begin and where they end. Proprioception helps us perceive the outside world, telling us whether our bodies are moving…