What is proprioception? It’s the ability to know where you are in space. By gathering information from your legs, feet, muscles, and tendons, your brain interprets this information and then sends commands back to your muscles to change where and how they are positioned to maintain balance.
In this video, Point Performance’s Julie Shein demonstrates balance exercises to improve proprioception. First, stand on a hard, flat surface without shoes on. Try standing on one foot, then in tandem stance, then with feet together, and feet apart. Once you’ve mastered that, change your surface to something less steady, such as a foam mat. Try the same exercises again. You’ll find that your proprioception is more challenged. Your ankles and leg muscles are working harder to maintain balance. This is important, especially after a foot or ankle injury, or after joint replacement.
Once you’ve mastered the foam mat, try using something even more unsteady such as a bosu ball.
