What is cervical proprioception?

What is proprioception?

Proprioception is the ability to sense the position and movement of our body without visual feedback. The cervical spine works as a sensory system that relies heavily on mechanoreceptors, like muscle spindles, that detect mechanical changes within tissue. The proprioceptive information from the mechanoreceptors is transmitted through neural pathways, referred to as cervical afferents, to the central nervous system. The cervical afferents also have unique connections to the visual and vestibular systems through reflex pathways and direct neural connections.

Key components of cervical proprioception

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  Muscle spindles
  Neck muscles, particularly the deep cervical muscles, have the highest muscle spindle density of all the muscles in the body. This high density is responsible for the sophisticated proprioceptive feedback in the cervical spine.

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  Joint position sense
  Joint position sense refers to the ability to perceive the static position of a joint. It is essential for maintaining posture when the body is stationary or moving slowly.

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  Movement sense
  Movement sense refers to the ability to detect joint or limb movement, including the direction, speed and amplitude of motion. It plays a crucial role in executing smooth and coordinated movements.

Why is cervical proprioception important?

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  Spatial orientation and awareness
  It provides a sense of how your head and neck are positioned relative to your body, aiding in navigation and movement without disorientation.

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  Connections to other sensory systems
  Impaired proprioceptive feedback can affect the visual and vestibular systems due to the connections between these systems.

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  Cervicogenic symptoms
  The cervical sensory function is particularly vulnerable to trauma. It’s the reason why neck injuries are associated with a wide array of symptoms that are unique to this region.

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  Injury prevention
  Impaired cervical proprioception is correlated with increased risk of injury and concussion.