Clumsiness / proprioception

[HMSA Admin Team]

All discussion on Clumsiness and Proprioception should be posted here.

[nonyanomemory]

In some clumsiness yes, a clue to this may be in part due to this, taken from the Home page of this site written by Professor R. Grahame.

The first clue relates to the sense called proprioception, which means knowing where parts of one's body are in space. If you close your eyes and somebody bends your finger for you or picks your arm up, you know immediately how far your finger is bent or where your arm now is. That is because you have good proprioception. Scientists have shown that people with the HMS/EDS are not quite as good as other people in knowing exactly where their fingers or arms etc are in space. This could lead to a further increase in the risk of injury.

Hope this helps nonya

[BendyBoff]

This thread just reminded me - when my brother was little he had 'somewhat clumsy' written on his notes but it was ignored as just being one of those things. Now of course we know why!!

[notsparklynow]

I've always been somewhat clumsy (my parents wouldn't let me do any potentially "dangerous" activities eg gymnastics or skiing because they thought I'd break something.) I see their point!
I quite frequently fall up stairs and walk into door frames virtually every day. I've banged my head getting into the car several times and trip over my own feet a lot. My desk at work has a habit of jumping out and bumping into me too...

But a few minutes ago I did a classic. Sitting in my office chair at home, and feeling very stiff and sore today, so i decided to have a good stretch. Next thing I'm falling backwards and trying to avoid hitting my head as I prepare to hit the floor. I closed my eyes and braced for impact, then found myself still in my chair, which was on its back with the wheels turning. I didn't bang my head but did land on my arm, so sore elbow and wrist now. Glad nobody was around to see me although it is quite funny - i must've been quite a sight

[gila]

for that fall!
though... as one who was banned from the 'dangerous' kitchen as a little kid (no helping with the dishes for me ) ... ime doing gentle non-pushy kiddie gymnastics, learning to play instruments and learning to swim (basically anything that fairly gently improves co ordination and strength) really really helped my clutziness

and a job in adulthood where I had to regularly handle 'expensive breakable items' taught me to consciously think about and concentrate on what I'm doing

result: I'm really only clumsy when tired/stressed and I dont think/concentrate- but yep i do actually 'have to think' even when just picking up my mug of tea
xxg

[anna]

Thought you might like a laugh. We have a lovely but very straight laced friend. I was at his home, helping make the coffee - opened the fridge and my forefinger, spurting blood everywhere! You should have seen his face - he could not believe anyone could injure themselves opening a fridge - there is a funny side to faulty proprioception!! And, predictably, like Gila I was also banned from the kitchen as a child , except for drying dishes and I invariably cut myself/dropped something, or 'threw ' something across the room!!

[matildasmummy]

Hi all

I'm so glad i'm not the only one!
I am constantly walking into the door frames and handles causing grazes and bruises. It makes me feel like a real clutz! I have just been diagnosed with HMS and this site is a gods send! It also make sence as to why my daughter (diagnosed with HMS on the same day) constantly trips over her feet and her safety gate.

I too can not seem to walk in a straight line especially when someone is walking beside me. I find I always end up bumping into them several times or standing on the back of peoples feet when they are in front of me.

When I was 32 weeks pregnant with my daughter I fell down 6 stairs turned, bumped into the front door and landed on an upright shoe box saving my fall. My hubby was half way down stairs, he stood so still he was so shocked at the performance from me just trying to get downstairs! (we now live in a ground floor flat!!!)

claire x

[gila]

I've just come across a poss different/or added reason for my extreme clumsiness as a kid- I have no "natural/normal" stereo vision = had no real depth perception=extreme clumsiness

there is now some eye/brain training available which apparently works v well if it is caught early on/as a kid

my brain apparently made its own connections/compensations, so re-training might just utterly confuse my brain

the "not normal" stereo vision also explains why I have probs with wearing glasses
xxg

[Mog]

I've just found you guys (newbie) but already I feel at home reading this thread! I have done so many of the above it's ridiculous. The piece de resistance had to be when I got my head slammed then trapped in a fire door in art college. Double-sided bruising, mild concussion and a very, very red face I have become stuck head-first in so many doors it's ridiculous...is it worth resorting to wearing all over hockey padding for the rest of our lives?

I also pulled the major muscles in my neck/shoulder on one side by, wait for it...rolling over in my sleep. Yup, work definitely laughed at me for that and the out of hours doctor was helpful up until he started smirking. I'm going to start wearing a t-shirt that says "I'm special, it's not my fault!" that should just explain it all =)

[cracker]

phew i glad i not the only one im realy clumsy i always tripping over my feet & bumpining into things. it hurts but a bit too sometimes .i feel a right donut afterwoods tho. i misjudged the seat on the bus the other day and landed on my bum i sat there & laughed lol

[barkingmad]

My daughter is a little clumsy. ...Not only has she managed to get her umbrella stuck in my hair twice today but she has shouldered me into strangers in London to skirt six foot round bus stops!

[gila]

-
and yep any kinda excitement, also joyful positive not just stressy excitement makes for having to "think" more about what/how I do things-
and the "thinking" involves "looking" (and poss subconsciously doing "the maths/geometry"...??? ) of how to get my hand in the handle of tea mug and the mug safely to my mouth and back to the table - ( if your proprio sense doesnt work that well then indeed you can compensate with sight/looking- and my personal theory... also loud music can help- cause dancing to loud music, and nope quiet music doesnt work for me, I am rather well co ordinated)

the 'having to look before you..." always reminds me of how cats seem to take time and look and look again (and maybe work out the 'maths' ??? ) before they do a new/quite difficult jump
xxg

[tinselworm]

Oh my, this is totally me.

If I walk through a door without bashing some part of me on the frame (usually the back of my hand on the handle, which flippin' hurts!) it's a miracle. I am forever walking into the coffee table, I once bruised my little toe so badly when I walked into the end of the bath that I thought I'd broken it, and I have even been known to stub my toes on the hoover while actually using it.

I drop jars and tins when trying to put them away after shopping (thankfully, most have rolled), I have broken countless plates by banging them against the others when aiming for an empty slot in the dish drainer, and I knock cups over constantly when I try to pick them up - s*d's law dictates always when they are full of tea and on a beige carpet.

Perhaps my crowning glory though was shutting my own nose in the car door. Now, granted, it's not the smallest or most delicate of noses, but to this day I have no idea how I did it. But god alive, did it hurt!

[GreenLantern]

I'm much more clumsy than I used to be, especially notice it in crowded places like the city centre. I always feel as if I'm veering off slightly and can't make myself go in a straight line, this results in lots of bumping into people but I always look at them as if it's their fault I also drop things a lot and have become very careful if I'm carrying something valuable around like my laptop etc.

San

OMG I'm the same! I always feel like people are looking at me as though I'm drunk! I'm forever stumbling or veering off to one side, my partner has to hold me now when I go out so I don't stumble or fall.

[nataliejane81]

Oh so familiar!

I slammed the car door into my head this morning; I just misjudged where it was & whacked it straight into my eyebrow... If only this sort of thing wasn't an everyday thing it would be a bit less embarrassing