This 1997 narrative review by Lephart et al. synthesizes the basic science and clinical evidence for proprioception's role in athletic injury and rehabilitation, covering mechanoreceptor physiology, the effects of injury and surgery on afferent pathways at the knee, ankle, and shoulder, and how rehabilitation programs should be structured to restore neuromuscular control.
When designing post-op or post-injury rehab — whether ACL reconstruction, capsulolabral repair, or ankle sprain — include early proprioceptive loading at all three CNS levels: perturbation training for spinal reflex arcs, single-leg balance with eyes closed for brainstem pathways, and active repositioning drills for cortical programming.
Strength restoration alone does not address the partial deafferentation that persists after ligamentous injury and predisposes athletes to reinjury.
This 1997 narrative review by Lephart et al. synthesizes the basic science and clinical evidence for proprioception's role in athletic injury and rehabilitation, covering mechanoreceptor physiology, the effects of injury and surgery on afferent pathways at the knee, ankle, and shoulder, and how rehabilitation programs should be structured to restore neuromuscular control.
When designing post-op or post-injury rehab — whether ACL reconstruction, capsulolabral repair, or ankle sprain — include early proprioceptive loading at all three CNS levels: perturbation training for spinal reflex arcs, single-leg balance with eyes closed for brainstem pathways, and active repositioning drills for cortical programming.
Strength restoration alone does not address the partial deafferentation that persists after ligamentous injury and predisposes athletes to reinjury.