Proprioception (& Why Some Autistic People Hand Flap)

Proprioception is another one of those senses that many people aren't aware of, and it's one of my favorites! In fact, many autistic people use proprioceptive input to regulate, even if they aren't hyposensitive. Proprioception appears to also have a special connection with autism in general as well, especially regarding dyspraxia-like symptoms.

In this video, I explore research and information regarding what proprioception is and the link to autism. I share some of my own personal examples and experiences as well as help to interpret more confusing academic language into understandable, yet still accurate and detailed, language for the average person looking to understand more.

References/Further Reading:

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Sensory Tiles:
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[naricaution]

I know this video is a couple years old now, but I just wanted to thank you for making it. It's been enlightening. Yet another "oooh, well that explains a lot." moment for me. That seems to happen frequently when i watch this channel 😅 I've definitely had proprioceptive seeking behaviors as well as common issues that were described here. I feel like I'm more on the extreme end in terms of levels of my physical abilities with various things. Like, I never understood why I could have incredible balance and coordination at certain times but was still so generally clumsy and accident prone. I can catch and toss things with impressive accuracy but I'll also knock over the salt shaker when I reach for the pepper. I love skate boarding, I've had my longboard for a good 15 years now and still enjoy taking it out for a spin when i want to clear my head. (I'm 31 just for reference) I have found myself "flamingo-ing" as I've called it, where I'll randomly stand on one leg when idle, like while waiting in a queue. I also walk into door frames and stub my feet on things and drop things on the regular. I also crave pressure and would wear the hood up on my sweatshirts even in the summer as the added pressure and confident around my head and neck was comforting. My posture is also horrendous which causes pain at varying degrees. I also think I lack awareness of what my face is doing at any given time. Kind of like breathing, I don't notice anything is odd until it's pointed out I'm breathing more rapidly or exaggeratedly deep. My facial expressions can come off as exaggerated or mismatched, conveying emotions to others that I'm not genuinely feeling or intending to express. It really is a spectrum of abilities with a lot of odd contractions that I'm now learning to forgive myself for. I used to wonder how I could be so smart and so dumb at the same time. How i could be so good at some things and so rubbish at other things that used similar skillsets. I now believe i have the answers to that, in part thanks to you and other autistic content creators sharing their experiences and knowledge. And that's because it's an infinitely broad spectrum that encompasses all that it is to be human. After a lifetime thus far off feeling like I didn't belong, I feel like I have finally found fit in. Somewhere on the spectrum.

[hazeelise]

yes, I am autistic, and I am pretty certain I am hyposensitive to proprioceptive input... I am constantly seeking it. I am much clumsier and find it more difficult to walk when I am not wearing clothing that puts pressure on my body, like leggings, which is part of why I hate summer since it's too hot for me to get good proprioceptive input. I also have been a seeker of tight hugs from literally anyone who would give them to me for my entire life. when I was little, I would run around church hugging every single person I could. that led to me having to learn about physical space, boundaries, and consent... lol. I've always been incredibly clumsy and uncoordinated, but I do notice that when I am able to get more proprioceptive input, I become less so.

[annav]

I think I do this quite a bit, I hug people a lot and I sleep basically in the crack between my bed and the wall because of the pressure. I also tend to put my backpack on my lap because of the weight or scoot my chair super close to my desk and sitting with a notebook to distribute the weight if I’m stressed during class. Also I pretty much always sit on my knees or with my legs wrapped around me some other way. It’s interesting how people find ways to meet needs they don’t even know they have.

[krugerfuchs]

Would this explain a loss of balance when tired when I get tired my balance goes like I've been drinking but I'm sober my balance totally goes I'm out of here

[chronicreverse]

Awesome video! I really appreciate you bring *actually helpful* research into the general public. Your channel and the Autistamatic channel are my absolute favourites for understanding autism.

[leslovesliberty]

Thank you for covering this topic!! It's very difficult to find good information on the proprioceptive, interoceptive, or vestibular senses, especially in relation to ASD. Thank you!👍

[alittledashoffun]

I cannot believe how exactly the list of proprioceptive-seeking activities describes things I do automatically in my day-to-day life - stamping and jumping spontaneously when I’m walking, swinging off things, sitting on my legs, chewing, hand flapping etc. Hadn’t previously occurred to me that these were all linked to proprioceptive input - interesting food for thought! Also interested to hear about the research on the distinction between dyspraxia vs autistic motor skills - I’ve always had poor gross motor skills, but I’ve never felt it’s quite the same as what my dyspraxic friends experience and this would explain that. Thanks for a really thought-provoking video!

[kairon]

I 100% have the over focus issues for each and every bodily movement and thus have issues with mimicking what I'm shown how to do, plus a slew of other problems in relation to this.

Motor planning???? This one feels like a major part of my problem existing, but on the over focus side while keeping myself quiet and unnoticed by others.
I would love to set up a psychologist and have you as a voice for me because either I've been born with a lack of fine motion control and future planning for bodily movement. I never even realized there was a near vs far planning for movement skills.

[PukuDuckie]

Oh man, so many of these are me. The ones that give me the most issues are the pressing hard while writing/drawing (I do art, so this has been more of an issue over the years) and sitting on my legs. I can't not do those and now my joints are not doing great. ^^''' I was sitting on my legs less when I was on an exercise ball, but that's because you literally can't do that on an exercise ball.

[cd]

I am definitely proprioceptive seeking. Although, I have learned to be more subtle with my stims due to not being diagnosed until adulthood. My coordination is terrible. I drop things all the time. It's like my hand just lets go. I also miss surfaces. So if I go to put something down a table, I will just miss the table. I also walk into things a lot. My balance has been really good until I sustained a back injury. This was a very informative video. I love all of your APA formatted citations.

[marknugent]

Is toe walking maybe a flight or flight thing? The extra stresses of being atypical in a typical world makes us want to run or fight and from a physics perspective, I saw this recently on Neil DeGrasse Tyson's StarTalk, toe running is a more efficient running style for added spring.

I noticed when I was diagnosed I was asked about toe walking and I hadn't actually noticed it before, I was 41 at the time, but I said to the assessor that my calf muscles had been sore and rock hard for as long as I can remember and since being asked I started to try to be conscious of it and I think I may be overcompensating because I now I regularly heel myself (like if you don't stick a landing as a kid and pain shoots up your leg from your achilles) and the front of my sins are tender (shin splints?).

The pressure from hugs part is probably why weighted blankets help with stress.

Thanks again Stephanie!

[dannibobanni]

I love sports and I love being active and I want to do everything I possibly can and I want to be the best at it BUT OBOY IS IT HARD. I am widly uncoordinating starting anything new and my balance in general is just horrid. Ive been working really hard on improving it tho so its not as bad as its been, but lets just say, Ive fallen down stairs far too many times. Ive been playing tennis for almost 4 years now and its taken this long to finally build in the muscle memory and basics I need and there is still so much I have to improve on. Generally tho, Id say Im pretty good now, BUT MY BALANCE WTH. Also my face is a great magnet for getting klonked in the head with a ball. My first year playing tennis was horrible tho, I loved the sport so much but yall, it took me months to get anything consistent and I didnt win a match until my junior year (for reference, Im about to be a senior). I also would get panic attacks every single match I played my freshman year and I cried at most of them because of the anxiety and the frustration that I couldnt do it right. My brain likes to shut down under pressure. Also, I would like to point out, I do not have a diagnosis of any kind, but I highly suspect I have autism. Ive been trying to look for two years and I still dont know how I can get one, especially at this age. It seems like Im too old now to get help but I feel like more than ever I do :(

[havaranel]

Does this relate to how some autistics need the weighted blankets etc? Gives a feeling of being able to feel your body within the space? There’s also clothing that you can get that helps with this, if that’s correct. Pretty sure I’ve seen something about it. Like weighted vests and hoodies. But I think even snug fitting clothing helps too. I often wear exercises clothing because of its comfort factor, with my arthritis. But it’s psoriatic arthritis, so my skin often feels... odd, and I’ve noticed the snug clothing helps with that too, and I wonder if it’s more this proprioception thing.