Proprioception

Assessing proprioception, November 9, 2021. Courtesy of Mikayla Morton.

Proprioception is the ability to recognize the position of your body or limbs in space when you are not moving.

1. Hold lateral portion of the upper extremity and move joint in flexion and extension. Tell patient you will be moving their arm to different positions in space and asking them to identify where it is located.
2. Ask patient to close their eyes.
3. Move the upper extremity into a flexed or extended position.
4. Ask the patient to identify what position their upper extremity is located in.
5. Document results of the assessment as intact, impaired or absent as identified ___/10 locations correctly. Ex: “Impaired as identified 6 of 10 locations correctly.”

(Gett & Romaniw, 2021)

References

Gett, M., & Romaniw, A. (2021, October 19). Sensory deficits [PowerPoint slides]. Brightspace. https://mylearning.chatham.edu/d2l/le/content/21252/Home

Morton, M. (Photographer). (2021). Assessing proprioception [Photograph].