Proprioception refers to any joint’s ability to sense its own position. Each joint can tell how much it is turned, twisted, or bent forward or back. There are joints in the spine that also rely on this function.

When a joint is damaged or injured, its sense of proprioception can be changed. This may lead to reinjury. Physical therapists help patients avoid reinjury. They are studying proprioception in several joints. The ankle, hip, and back are the first three to be included.

Exercises to retrain proprioception will be the natural result of any findings from these studies. A recent study at McGill University in Canada suggests that proprioceptive training in the spine should take place in several positions. These include standing, sitting, and kneeling on hands and knees.