FBP

Proprioception: The Missing Piece in Your Child’s Development Puzzle

As parents, we constantly seek to make the best decisions for our children’s health, and when we have that gut feeling that something is not right, it’s unsettling, especially if we’re not quite sure what is wrong. There is a term that may not be on the radar for most parents: proprioception. If your child struggles with motor tone and development, weak core, delayed walking or talking, sensory processing disorder, autism spectrum disorder, or even ADHD and anxiety, then proprioception could be at the core of these challenges. 

Understanding proprioception, its importance for children’s developing brains, and how early childhood stressors and birth interventions such as C-sections, inductions, forceps, and vacuum-assisted deliveries can disrupt it is vital knowledge for parents.

If you are a parent whose child is dealing with motor function issues, tone and coordination difficulties, sensory processing challenges, speech delays, and more, this is for you. It is especially relevant if you have your child in common therapies like physical therapy (PT), occupational therapy (OT), and speech therapy but have either reached a plateau or are not witnessing the desired results as quickly as you had hoped.

As Neurologically-Focused Chiropractors, we want to dive deep with you into the topic of proprioception, motor tone, and development and how they profoundly impact sensory processing, behavioral and emotional regulation, focus, memory, and much more. By gaining a solid understanding of these concepts, you, as a parent, will be empowered to make informed decisions about your child’s health and development.

 

Understanding Proprioception

Proprioception is like our body’s “sixth sense” that constantly sends information to the brain about the body’s position, movement, coordination, spatial orientation, and motor tone. Although we may not consciously think about it, proprioception is essential for everyday tasks such as walking, writing, and reaching for objects.

Crucially, proprioception plays a pivotal role in brain development, optimal brain function, regulation, and overall well-being in developing children and teenagers. Altered proprioception is closely correlated with the four main neurological conditions that children often face today: autism, sensory processing issues, ADHD, and anxiety. It can also be connected to epilepsy and seizures.

 

Birth Trauma + Subluxation

Birth interventions and trauma, including C-sections, inductions, forceps, and vacuum-assisted deliveries, can disrupt proprioceptive input by causing physical injuries to the brainstem and vagus nerve. These injuries contribute to stress, or subluxation, on the nervous system – a condition known as dysautonomia.

Subluxation involves three main components: misalignment, fixation or decreased proprioceptive input, and neurological interference, imbalance, and dysfunction. It is essential to understand how these factors impact your child’s body.

While physical therapy (PT) and occupational therapy (OT) exams assess proprioceptive function and motor tone through movement and coordination tests, our neurological INSiGHT scans provide a deeper analysis of the root causes.  With the information gathered from the INSiGHT scans, we can identify the specific subluxation and altered proprioception. Neuro-Tonal Adjustments, designed to enhance proprioceptive input into the brain and central nervous system, can then be applied to help improve your child’s condition.

 

Story of Hope: Joseph and His Struggle with Proprioception

Hearing from another family who has experienced something similar to what you’re going through can help you relate and put all the puzzle pieces together.  Joseph’s story is an inspiring one that connects with the essence of proprioception. Joseph, whose journey from anxiety, sensory processing disorder, and low muscle tone to a happier, more relaxed state with improved posture, showcases the transformative power of understanding proprioception. You can find Joseph’s inspiring story and related scans here.

 

Drug-Free Care for Your Child’s Proprioception

If you suspect that your child is struggling with proprioception and related conditions, and you feel that the progress from PT, OT, and Speech Therapy alone is not as fast or complete as you would like, we encourage you to explore Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic. It so often serves as the missing link in improving proprioception and overall neurological development in children.

Please reach out to our team at ADIO Chiropractic, we’d love to answer any questions you may have! If you’re not local to us in the Middleton or Madison area, you can search for a local PX Doctor near you on our directory to get your child started with care today.  Together, we can help you support your child’s health and give more support with their daily movement or sensory struggles.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Request an appointment online or contact us by phone at (608) 824-0950

More blog posts

Beyond Baby Blues: Supporting New Moms’ Emotional Health in Madison

You're awake at 3 AM again, rocking your fussy newborn who refuses to sleep. Your body aches from exhaustion. Your mind races with worry. "Why isn't this feeling magical?" you wonder, guilt washing over you. The nursery you spent months preparing feels like a prison....

Why Is My Child Missing Developmental Milestones? Understanding Gross Motor Delays in Children

You're watching your friend's children at the park, and there it is again—that twinge in your stomach as her 10-month-old effortlessly pulls to stand while your 12-month-old is still struggling to crawl. You've tried to brush it off. "Every child develops at their own...

“They’ll Outgrow It”: Why This Common Advice Is Keeping Your Child From Thriving

It's 2 AM, and you're pacing the nursery with your screaming 3-month-old for the fifth night in a row. Your shirt is soaked with spit-up, your eyes burn from exhaustion, and that persistent worry in the pit of your stomach grows heavier with each passing hour....

Finding Balance: Self-Care Strategies for New Moms in Madison

As your newborn's cries echo through the early morning hours, you reach for your phone – it's 3 AM. Tonight marks the fourth consecutive night of interrupted sleep. The kitchen counters are cluttered with unwashed bottles, the laundry basket overflows, and your...

From Surviving to Thriving: How Madison Dads Can Break Free from Stress, Pain, and Overwhelm

You're awake at 3 AM again. Your lower back is throbbing—probably from helping your son practice pitching all weekend. Tomorrow's presentation looms. Your mind races through the mental load you carry: college savings, that weird noise the car is making, your...

The Real Reason Your Teenager is Always Tired: Beyond Late Nights and Screen Time

It's 7:00 AM. You've already called their name three times. When you finally peek into their dark bedroom, your teenager is still buried under blankets, completely unresponsive to your increasingly frustrated attempts to wake them. Even on weekends, they sleep until...

Why Does My Child Have Emotional Meltdowns? Understanding Sensory Overload in Madison, WI Kids

You're at the grocery store when it happens again. Your child, who was smiling just moments before, is now in full meltdown mode—screaming, crying, maybe even thrashing on the floor. The fluorescent lights, endless choices, bustling shoppers, and background music...

Could Chiropractic Care Help My Child Stop Wetting the Bed? A Natural Approach to Nighttime Accidents

The 2 AM Wake-Up Call That Never Ends It's 2 AM—again. You're kneeling in the dark, stripping wet sheets while trying to comfort your embarrassed child. The plastic mattress cover crinkles beneath your fingers as you both try to ignore the familiar smell of urine....

Is Your Child’s Screen Time Affecting Their Health? A Chiropractic Perspective on Digital Well-Being

In today's digital world, parents across Madison are facing an unprecedented challenge: managing their children's relationship with technology. If you're like many families we see at ADIO Chiropractic, you may be wondering how all those hours hunched over tablets,...

Beyond the Snip: Why Tongue Tie Treatment Requires a Comprehensive Approach

Are you a parent struggling with your child's tongue tie issues? At ADIO Chiropractic in Middleton, Wisconsin, we understand that addressing tongue ties requires more than just a simple procedure - it demands a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary approach to ensure...