Ways of improving proprioception

In reflecting about cause-effect relationships, although scientists with their logical rationality like to have recourse to linear dependence, from the practical point of view live models are usually more complex and often work in both directions simultaneously: the effect can play a causal role and vice versa. Sometimes it is quite difficult to determine or distinguish between the supposed cause and effect or to place one before the other. Moreover, proprioceptive “dysfunctions” can occur due to multiple causes that can be controlled at the external level by proper individuum (developmental and maturation processes; training, acquisition of constructive or good habits, emotional intelligence; leading a healthy life style) or by the environment, e.g. society and its development. Once conflict had arisen, we can reflect on it, its negative consequences and can choose another way to behave, changing the behaviour (both at individual or collective level). For example, accelerated economic development and use of natural resources resulted in negative consequences from such human

32 activity, and by 1972 the First Environmental consciousness issues were proclaimed, the start of sustainable development. After discovering that pesticides and heavy metals affected our health (they also are one of the causes of Parkinson disease), they were prohibited. These questions about our individual health were due to collective “normative” behaviour.

Previously, many people who were exposed to radiation or other toxic elements during accidents or just by working at certain factories did not even know about the environmental effects on their health. As well as health issues and good quality of life, in order to improve them we also need regulation aimed at the best behaviour of individuals and on a social level.

The cause-effect relationship of effectiveness of this change is similar to the chicken-egg paradigm. On the one hand, it seems to be simpler to start at an individual level; however, the

“abnormalities” would be returned to the start point due to the social “normative” and acceptance patterns. It is akin to vicious cycle, where “the head bites its own tail”.

In this chapter, I will still talk about individual control changes to improve our proprioception and health and quality of life; although sometimes environmental factors (both nature and society) should not be disregarded, especially when they play a crucial role in our state. There are factors that we control only to a certain extent, but not totally, like the natural aging process, which can be different (more or less qualitative), though, we cannot extinguish it fully. The summarized description of the main factors of control to improve our proprioception, which is an indicator of own state (physical health, emotional and cognitive states), is represented in Figure 1.3.3.1. These factors that help to maintain our proprioceptive state in better condition are the following:

1) Regular physical exercise;

2) Quality nutrition;

3) Emotional control or Emotional Intelligence;

33 4) “Good” or constructive skills, habit and traditions. Mastering or improving in professional and other skills. Healthy life style.

Figure 1.3.3.1. Proprioception: factors of control.

Regular physical exercise

Kelaher, Glasscock, and Mirka (2007) reported their finding concerning the existence of a strong correlation between the overall repositioning of trunk and the combined score of the Kinetic and Proprioceptive Assessment Questionnaire and the Body Awareness Questionnaire. Gellhorn (1964) pointed out that various “relaxation” therapies alleviate states of abnormal emotional tension by reducing proprioceptive impulses which impinge on the posterior hypothalamus and maintain the cerebral cortex in an abnormal state of excitation.

Physical exercises, especially those that are related to improving equilibrium (balance), relaxation, proper respiration and proprioceptive consciousness such as Yoga, Tai-Chi, Pilates, etc., as well as dancing and singing, can be useful. For example, the slow and focused movements of Tai Chi practice provide an environment wherein the proprioceptive

34 information being fed back to the brain stimulates an intense, dynamic "listening environment" to further enhance mind/body integration. Several studies have been done to show their effectiveness and that of other physical and proprioceptive exercises for balance, good emotional state and reducing aging affects (Lelard, Doutrellot, Pascal, & Ahmaidi, 2010; Tse & Bailey, 1992; Shin, 1999). The Alexander Technique uses the study of movement to enhance kinaesthetic judgment of effort and location; juggling trains reaction time, spatial location, and efficient movement; and standing on a wobble board or balance board is often used to retrain or increase proprioception abilities (Proprioception^a, 2007).

Moreover, there was found to be a positive correlation between dancing and general, fluid intelligences and working memory (Fredyk & Smal, 2012). Another ancient Slavic method (Fig. 1.3.3.2), called “Pravilo” (with emphasis on “i” in Russian meaning “Correction”), is used to balance internal energy and stretch both muscles and joints removing the clamps and physical blocks, helping the discovery of hidden reserves and creativity, promoting health.

This tradition was used by Slavic defenders before combat with enemies to reduce fear and to be prepared for extreme situations (Pravilo, 2011).

Figure 1.3.3.2. “PRAVILO” method to stretch and balance internal energy (author: Zaitsev, S.) (used with permission).

35 Quality nutrition

In general healthy (and prudent quantities of) food is the main source of human physical being and activity, as well as of mood or emotional state. However, some elements rich in vitamins C and E, and flavonoids were found to have an antioxidant effect and thus be effective in improving proprioception, such as berries, grapes, green tea, red wine (Seroka, 2011; Willis, Shkitt-Hale, & Joseph, 2009; Berg, Kirkham, Wang, Frísen, & Simon, 2011;

Willis at al., 2009). Moreover, healthy diet helps to avoid overweight, which has effects on human balance, as in its turn closely related to proprioception (Teasdale, 2012).

Emotional control or Emotional Intelligence

Although all of us had “bad” models we acquired and followed automatically during our development, maturation or our whole life (there is no end to perfection), sometimes it seems very difficult to “forget” the wrong or destructive habit. Since it was repeated hundreds or thousands of times and was “incrusted” in our “natural” behaviour, we consider that “we are like this”. For sure, both cognitive and conscious control together with strong will and persistence are required to substitute a destructive habit with another, more healthy (for us) and appropriate (for both us and the environment) one. A large store of patience is needed to change the “old” custom, and sometimes also the support of others. Constant awareness, attention and self-control help in reaching a new model to replace an old one. However, the

“proprioceptive” principle will sooner or later work and give desirable results. As the Russian traditional proverb says, “Repetition is the Mother of Learning”; and it can be applied not only to abstract and cognitive learning, but also to “embodied” knowledge, and it is the crucial factor in one formation of good habits or professional skills.

36 He who always wears the mask of a friendly man must at last gain a power over friendliness of disposition, without which the expression itself of friendliness is not to be gained- and finally friendliness of disposition gains the ascendancy over him: he is benevolent.

Friedrich Nietzche (1876) (cited in Gellhorn, 1964, p. 457)

Moreover, this change (new action) has an influence on perception: for example James (1922) proposed that expressive behaviour affects the intensity of emotions; a finding that was supported by research experiments (McArthur, Solomon, & Jaffe, 1980).

In addition, Cole and Montero (2007) focused on a possible second role of the sixth sense (or proprioception) as an affective proprioception (similar to affective touch), which contributes to pleasure in and through a movement, which people can perceive, prticularly professional dancers, musicians and sportsmen. Richard Shusterman (2000) distinguished two concepts: awareness of the body’s external form of presentation (body builders and photomodels) and lived experience (how our bodies feel in moving). Gallagher (cited in Legrand, 2007) stated “that difference between body image and body schema is like the difference between having a perception of (or belief about, or emotional attitude towards) one’s body and having a capacity to move one’s own body”. More specifically, he pointed out that the body schema would sometimes involve a pre-reflective experience, while the body image would sometimes involve observational consciousness of the body.

“Good” or constructive skills, habit and traditions. Mastering or improving in professional and other skills. Maintaining a healthy life style.

From ne hand, stress reduces the defences of the immune system, accelerates aging processes and “takes its toll in Parkinson disease” as mentioned in the title of the article published in Science Daily (Nov. 11, 2012) due to superoxidation and free radical formation

37 (Guzman et al., 2010). For this reason both emotional control abilities and constructive habits and skills are required to maintain a healthy life style. Persons with personalities non-adaptive to stress have higher risk of certain illnesses: of type C are more vulnerable to infection and cancer, while of type A have twice the chance of suffering a sudden coronary disease (Robles Ortega & Peralta Ramírez, 2006). An acquisition of emotional competencies not only helps in the interactions of professional life, but also helps to create less stressful situations in communication at family level (Salovey & Mayer, 1990; Gippeneiter, 2007).

From another hand, mastering skills helps to reduce stress since with time the skill does not require full attention and cognitive effort to implement it, allowing become more automatic. This autopilot performance lets us not only be more relaxed during the action, but also allows us to combine multiple actions at the same time.

In addition, negative correlations were found between fine motor precision in the proprioceptive condition of test and our mnemonic memory and academic performance in secondary school pupils (Liutsko, Muiños, & Tous, 2012). Moreover, it was proved that mastering certain activities helped to improve the performance of others. Thus it was shown that musical activities, such as playing the piano or flute, had positive effects on the development of kinetic and spatial functions of children, and in turn resulted in better academic performance (Glozman & Pavlov, 2007).

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39 CHAPTER 2. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY AND BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW