Proprioception - or "self-position sense" - is the sensory system responsible for perceiving the body in space. This sense allows the brain to know exactly where each body part is, the degree of muscle stretch, and their direction of movement, at any given moment and automatically, without us needing to look at them.
Proprioceptive information is continuously collected by special receptors (proprioceptors) located in the muscles, tendons, and joints, and transmitted directly to the central nervous system.
Among autistic and neurodivergent people, it is very common to find variations in the processing of proprioceptive sense, which manifests in two main ways:
Hyposensitivity (Under-responsiveness): The brain receives weak or blurred signals from the joints. This often manifests externally as motor clumsiness, a tendency to bump into objects, difficulty with posture, or using excessive force (such as writing with too much pressure or accidentally slamming doors). To compensate for the lack of information, the person will seek strong proprioceptive stimulation through jumping, running, or intentionally bumping into objects and people.
Hyper Sensitivity (Over-responsiveness): A less common condition where every movement or change in body position is experienced as too intense or overwhelming, which can lead to avoidance of certain movements or postures.
Proprioceptive variation is closely linked to hypermobility and EDS (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome). Overly flexible joints send weak and confusing signals to the brain, forcing the muscles to work twice as hard to stabilize the body. This constant effort quickly depletes daily energy resources (Spoon Theory), impairs Interoception (internal sensing), and is a direct cause of chronic fatigue and overwhelming neurological load.