Proprioception and its link to sports performance

"The mind is like an iceberg; it floats with one-seventh of its bulk above water" - Sigmund Freud

Freud’s theory was that human consciousness has three parts synonymous to an iceberg: the conscious (above the waterline), the preconscious (just below the waterline), and the subconscious (a long way below the waterline). He theorised that human behaviour and personality are simply the interaction of these three states of mind.

This theory actually translates pretty well to sports performance, and to what some of us often describe on the pitch as ‘talent’. While us amateurs might be actively thinking about where the defenders are positioned, or trying to read cues from the opposition player, using our conscious mind, an elite athlete is perhaps more likely to tackle these issues in their subconscious mind. This leaves space in their conscious minds to process other information.

The preconscious mind analogy also has an interesting parallel in sport. Freud theorised that while the conscious mind contains all the things you are actively aware of at any given time, the preconscious mind consists of everything you could potentially pull into conscious awareness.

The idea that elite athletes can more effectively adapt to unexpected perturbations during performance better than amateurs is not new. In fact, many researchers suggest this adaptability is a major performance differentiator between elite and non-elite athletes [1]. This is where the preconscious mind concept becomes quite attractive. As we watch Lionel Messi glide through a gap that nobody else saw, or Serena Williams hit a backhand winner at full stretch to stun her opponent, the idea that their preconscious minds were already processing those possibilities, allowing them a distinct time advantage in executing the movement, just fits.

But what does this have to do with proprioception? Well, proprioception is another skill that we don’t really see, but that has a potentially huge impact on the performance of Messi, Williams, and all the other amazing athletes that we’re fortunate enough to watch.

How to improve proprioception in your sport

There aren’t many more divisive statements within fitness & training circles that stating outright that a session is designed to target proprioception. Minds drift to boring ‘functional’ instability work in the gym doing squats on balance pads and BOSU balls.

However, many believe that the right quantity and style of proprioceptive training can be a genuine gamechanger to raise the athletic ceiling. In short, anyone searching for performance enhancement should be training the nervous system as well as the muscles. A well-honed proprioceptive system will not only allow for more accurate skill execution, but also improved reaction to stimuli and faster movement. As athletes we would be stupid to ignore it.

In essence, the trick to creating effective proprioceptive training is to layer sport-specific motor skills with proprioceptive development. Take your sport-specific movements, and in the simplest terms add an appropriate level of instability. This forces the body to adapt, allowing for a more effective link to be made between muscle and nervous system, promoting proper muscle recruitment and patterning, resulting in improved movement skill. The more challenging the instability, within the reasonable confines of safety and common sense, the more efficient your body becomes at finding it a solution.

Where does this fit in your training?

This is ultimately where the coach and their creativity come in. Each sport has different fundamental movements and requirements, but there are a few common ways to integrate proprioceptive training into your routine:

In the warmup

The warmup is actually a great place to incorporate instability training, essentially using it as a wake-up drill for both the nervous system and the musculoskeletal system. Rather than just going through the motions, challenge your body and brain before practice or game play, making sure to build some instability and decision making into your sport-specific movements.

During gym work

Within the relatively safe confines of the gym, instability can be created using wobble and balance boards or resistance bands in both static and dynamic exercises. Consider everything from isometric holds to controlled plyometrics, generally without external loading, in favour of a focus on precision and stability. Use your creativity here to add perturbation and instability to your regular exercises, and even make things competitive between athletes. Don’t forget to make these movements at least as multi-directional as your sport is. By only training in a linear fashion, you are asking for trouble.

What does wearing Over+Above feel like?

Athletes’ experiences of wearing ProPrio garments for the first time does vary, with feedback ranging from “I can definitely feel something going on” to “wow, it really makes me feel connected to my body”. Once you get moving, you can expect to experience some benefits immediately. Whether improved running efficiency, a locked in feeling each time you contact the ground, support around that area that’s been bothering you, or simply a spring in your step.

By increasing awareness of your body and its motion, the ProPrio system helps you connect with every movement and perform with increased efficiency. We can’t promise to turn you into Lionel Messi or Serena Williams overnight. But by incorporating Over+Above apparel alongside some targeted proprioceptive training, we’re confident you’ll start to move with more control, adapt better to instability, and ultimately perform with greater efficiency every session.

References

[1] Williams, M, Ford, P, et al. (2018). Expertise in sport: specificity, plasticity, and adaptability in high-performance athletes. The Cambridge handbook of expertise and expert performance, 653-673.

[2] Taylor, J. (2013). Proprioception - an overview. Sciencedirect.com. Retrieved April 24, 2023.

[3] Han, J, Anson, J, et al. (2014). Sport attainment and proprioception. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 9(1), 159-170.