top of page
Search

Proprioception: Your “Sixth Sense” and the Pelvic Floor

You may have heard of the five senses—sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell. But did you know your body has another important sense that often goes unnoticed?


It’s called proprioception, and it plays a vital role in how you move, balance, and connect with your body every single day.


What Is Proprioception?

Often called the sixth sense, proprioception is your body’s ability to know where it is in space.


Thanks to proprioceptors—tiny sensors in your muscles, joints, ligaments, and tendons—your brain receives constant information about movement and positioning.


When proprioception is working well, you don’t have to consciously think about where your arms, legs, or core are—you just know. This invisible guidance system is always present, allowing you to walk without watching your feet, type without staring at your hands, or catch yourself if you start to trip.


Proprioception and the Pelvic Floor


So how does this “hidden sense” relate to pelvic health?


More than you might think.


Proprioception is essential for:

  • Body awareness and coordination: Proprioceptors in the pelvic floor muscles help your brain plan and coordinate movement patterns, keeping your pelvic floor working in sync with the rest of your body.

  • Motor control: Proper proprioceptive feedback allows the pelvic floor to contract and relax at the right times—whether it’s starting and stopping urination, having a bowel movement, or engaging comfortably in sexual activity.

  • Posture and alignment: Pelvic proprioception contributes to core stability, balance, and proper body alignment.

  • Relaxation: For individuals with a hypertonic (overactive) pelvic floor, proprioception is key to recognizing tension and learning how to release it. Without this awareness, the brain struggles to send the right signals for relaxation.


When Proprioception Is Reduced

If your proprioceptive awareness is diminished, you may notice challenges such as:

  • Pelvic floor tightness or overactivity

  • Pain with sexual activity, difficulty achieving orgasm, or sexual dysfunction

  • Trouble sensing when it’s time to use the bathroom

  • Accidental leakage of urine or stool


These issues can feel frustrating and isolating—but they are not uncommon, and they can improve with the right care.



Improving Proprioception Through Pelvic Therapy

At Auria Pelvic Health, we use a variety of strategies to improve proprioceptive awareness and pelvic floor function.


These may include:

  • Patient education: Learning how to properly engage and relax your pelvic floor (yes, including how to do Kegels correctly!)

  • Soft tissue work: Manual therapy and trigger point release to reduce tension, improve function, and build tactile awareness in the pelvic floor

  • Personalized exercise programs: Tailored movement and strengthening routines designed to improve muscle coordination and core stability


A Whole-Body Approach

Proprioception is more than just a “sixth sense”—it’s an essential part of how your body works and feels. By improving your awareness and connection to your pelvic floor, you can build strength, find balance, and reduce pain.


At Auria, we believe pelvic health is about treating the whole person—body, mind, an movement. If you’re experiencing pelvic floor challenges, we’re here to help you reconnect with your body and feel at home in yourself again.



Auria Pelvic Health

8929 S Sepulveda Blvd., Ste. 412

Los Angeles, CA 90045

Phone: 213-699-3996




Article Written By Dr. Sasha Speer, DPT


 
 
 
bottom of page