#body aware

What is The Proprioceptive System?

Another fundamental part of the sensory system is the proprioceptive system which is located in our ligaments, connective tissues, muscles and joints. This is the sense that detects and controls the amount of force and pressure we exert when moving around. The proprioceptive system is the only system necessary to develop body awareness. It is also the only sense that we experience before we are born since our first sensation is movement, which we experience inside of the womb!

The Importance of the Proprioceptive System:

There is a reason the proprioceptive system is also referred to as our hidden sixth sense. Proprioception is the internal sense that tells us where our body parts are at and what they should be doing, without having to look at them. If we had to consciously think about every physical movement we make during an average day, every time we got distracted we would fall down. Our internal body awareness sense relies on data gathered by receptors (called proprioceptors) in the skin, joints, muscles, ligaments, and connective tissues. The data is collected by detecting the pulling, stretching and pressure on the muscles and joints.

The information travels back to the brain through the central nervous system where it is processed, assigned meaning and stored in an unconscious area of the brain. This is how the unconscious area of the brain knows how much tension, pressure or stretching to apply as we move around during the day.

Proprioceptive Dysfunction Signs

We have covered that a normally functioning proprioceptive system allows us to move around freely without having to think about it. If the proprioceptive system is impaired life becomes more challenging, especially for children. The child has to make a conscious effort to both move around and sit still depending on what is being required of them. Often children struggling have a harder time mastering things we normally think twice about completing. This can cause a child t9 develop a short fuse and become frustrated easily.

There are three different areas a proprioceptive system can be impaired. Each of these different have different symptoms and interfere with life in different ways. Luckily, the way you treat and accommodate them are similar.

1.) Sensory Seeking

* Using too much force when trying to pick something up,

* Does not know how hard to press when writing- may often break pencils or tear through paper,

* Does not know their own strength- they may play too rough with others

* While sitting, they have to bounce or shake their leg

* Prefers tighter fitting clothing

* May be observed clenching jaw or biting inedible objects

* Feet stomping when walking around normally

*Bumps into things or people

2.) Poor Motor Planning/Control & Body Awareness

* Difficulty going up and down stairs

* Difficulty riding a bike

* Uncoordinated

* Seems unaware of their body

* Invades other peoples personal space

* Developmental delays with their fine motor skills

* Unable to gauge how hard to press when writing typically resulting in poor penmanship or tired crampy hands.

3.) Poor Postural Control

* May be observed slouching a lot

* Awkward gait

* Struggles with their balance

* Prefers sedentary activities

* Easily worn out

* Places head down on desk while writing

When the system isn’t working properly the brain cannot gauge how much tension, pressure or stretching is needed to go about different levels of activities in the day. If the brain cannot communicate how much tension or pressure is needed, then the child cannot apply the correct amount of force on things. Sometimes the force may be excessive which may lead to the child to accidentally breakthings. Other times the force may not be enough and your child will drop things and/or struggle with their fine motor skills.

Children with dysfunctional proprioceptive systems will typically begin engaging in self regulating behaviors such as crashing into things, excessive running, toe walking or flapping. These behaviors provide the child with the proprioceptive input that they are not getting throughout the day. There are much safer ways to help ensure your child gets the proprioceptive input that they are looking for.

Regulating Proprioception

Most people get the physical movement their proprioception system needs from their daily activities. Heavy work activities are anything that involves pulling, pushing, lifting heavy objects or any other tasks that involve providing heavy resistance and input to the muscles and joints. Heavy work is considered a sensory activity that helps jumpstart the child’s proprioception system ability to know where their body is at and what it should be doing.

Providing the child with heavy work activities each day can help reduce any symptoms associated with an un-regulated proprioceptive system. Heavy work activities can take place anywhere. Even bringing them to the grocery store and have them help push the cart and/or bend and lift the food into the cart. Taking the child to the park or asking them complete age appropriate chores around the house can provide them with the proprioception input they need.

Other ideas for proprioceptive input include:

* Bear hugs or being wrapped up tightly in a blanket

* Weighted vests or blankets (consult with a physician first because there is a formula involved that is based on weight to calculate just how much weight the child needs)

* Rolling around on the belly while doing push ups on top of an exercise ball.

* Yoga (improves flexibility, muscle strength and muscle and balance)

* Activities where your child has to locate body parts or be more conscientious of their body awareness. (Simon says, copying silly poses or dance moves, etc)

* Oral activities like chewy tubes or vibration sticks, sucking milkshakes or smoothies through a straw, blowing bubbles, etc)

Caregiver Advice:

Body Aware by Erica Hornthal

Hornthal’s Body Aware explains how beneficial movement helps the body heal. Movement therapy gets overlooked quite often as a source of mental healing. Through three different sections (How You Move, How Movement Is A Catalyst For Change, and Transforming Your Life Through Movement), Body Aware presents easy to understand concepts of intentionally moving and benefits of doing so. You will learn…

Kid me has had her fair share of this kind of relationship. When we weren’t withering in hopelessness, we were raging at these “caretakers”.

So where is this pattern repeating?

In my relationship to my body. I claim to be afraid of my body, what it can do to put me in so much pain, and sometimes those pains are great enough to have me withering in hopelessness. Other times I rage at my body, when she’s just trying to send messages to me.

But as our communication has strengthened, for I have learned to love my dear body, a discovery has been made. This body is an instrument, and as such I can tune her towards health and wellness. To absorb certain nutrients. Flush certain toxins. Work with a schedule.

Likewise she teaches me, directs me through lessons in love, patience, communication, energy, curiosity, hilarity, generosity, sensuality, creativity, and so on. And for this I am so very grateful.

              World AIDS Day World AIDS Day, designated on 1st December every year since 1988, is an international day related to raising awareness about the outbreak of AIDS, as it is a chronic as well as life-threatening disease caused by the HIV virus. It is celebrated or commemorate all around the world by many NGo's, National Organizations and many more... It was first time organized by United Nations. And it is celebrated in all the UN members States.

In 2018, The theme of the Global health campaign will be” Know your Status”. Now, let's know about this chronic and life-threatening disease...............

AIDS:-

AIDS, (Acquired Immuno-deficiency Syndrome), a disease which can cause health issues as well as mental and financial destruction as well. AIDS is caused due to a very dangerous virus named as HIV (Human immunodeficiency syndrome). It can be more threatening as it causes intensive damage to the immune system as it destroys CD4 T cells – group of white blood cells which are very important to fight any type of disease. Then it represents as themselves as body cells, so that the immune system cannot differentiate between antibodies and foreign particles. It is then an open invitation to other diseases like Tuberculosis, Malaria, Cholera etc...

The HIV virus looks like the above diagram: It includes Glycoproteins on the outer shell called as viral envelope Its own RNA (Ribose-nucleic acid) with two identical strands.

Reasons of causing AIDS: The reasons for causing AIDS are as follows: Blood Transfusion: if the Doctors or the Nurses used the infected syringes, towels during blood transfusion can cause AIDS. Unprotected Sex: If the person does unprotected sex without using any protection or multiple sex partners can cause AIDS During pregnancy: Infected Mothers can pass the virus onto their babies. The mothers taking treatment lowers the risk to their babies.

HIV doesn’t spread through an ordinary contact with the infected person. That means any person can't catch the HIV or AIDS by hugging, kissing, dancing or shaking hands with someone who is infected. HIV isn't spread through the air, water or insect bites.

Symptoms of AIDS: The HIV virus multiplies very fast and destroy the immune cells and causes the sign and symptoms such as follows: Fever Fatigue Swollen lymph nodes- the first sign of HIV infection Diarrhea Weight loss Ulcers Sweating Weakness etc. are the symptoms of AIDS

Diagnosis and Precautions:  Diagnosis can be done by a pathological test known as ELISA test. ELISA test stands for Enzyme-linked immuno- sorbent Assay.

 One should use protection during sex. Don’t indulge in multiple- partner sex.