20/11/2025
Proprioceptive Calming Strategies
Proprioception is any resistance or exertion to joints, tendons, and muscles. Many individuals during meltdowns will seek proprioceptive input by hitting or biting themselves, banging wrists/ankles on solid surfaces, headbanging, throwing things, jumping up and down, etc. Strong jarring/exertion into the joints releases stress chemicals and helps calm and organize the nervous system. Providing other, less injurious, forms of strong input into the joints and tendons can help the person calm.
1. Hand wringing towel: As described earlier in an example, teach the person to wrap a towel around both hands, twist and pull, providing strong resistance to hands, wrists, and arms. This is a good technique to occupy the hands, especially for individuals who hit themselves.
2. Hitting/slamming: Provide children something soft (e.g., pillow) to hit or throw around. For those who need to body slam and head bang, place them on a cushioned mat to soften the blows while allowing them strong input. This needs to be done under close supervision to ensure they are not hurting themselves.
3. Hand hug, forearm rub, wrist compression: While one hand provides pulsating squeezes to the palm of the hand, use the other hand to provide deep pressure rubs to the forearm. Add wrist compressions while doing this. This is an extension of the hand hugs. Take your upper hand and move it to the forearm, a few inches from the wrist. In sync with the palm squeezes, provide joint compression to the wrist while using a deep pressure rub to the forearm.
4. Playful wrestling: For those using neutral warmth (see above), where you are already sitting behind the child with them in a firm arm wrap, have the child playfully squirm out of your hold. In addition to the bear hug, I usually wrap my legs around theirs, requiring them to use their legs to get themselves out. Actively struggling to get out will provide great input into the joints, tendons, and muscles. Again, this must be practiced frequently, seen as fun and not as a restraint, and under the child’s control. Stop if they are complaining or negatively resisting.
5. Finger squeezes: The person provides this to himself by placing one hand around the other hand's fingers. While squeezing the fingers together, twist the fingers back and forth. This provides good input into all the joints of the fingers.
6. Biting Chewery/tubing: The teeth and jaw provide strong proprioception. That is why some individuals bite themselves. The strong input from biting releases stress chemicals from the nervous system. Provide hard rubber items (chewery or tubing) to bite on. They make a variety of small items that individuals can chew and bite on to provide strong input into the teeth and jaw.
7. Rocking on solid, stationary chairs. Intense rocking, back and forth, on stationary furniture, can provide resistance and jarring into the joints, that releases stress chemicals. Again, make sure to monitor closely for safety and ensure very solid furniture that can take the beating.
8. Jumping, crashing: Jumping (trampoline, mattress, etc.) provides good proprioceptive jarring of the legs and spine. Also, jumping and crashing on a bed, large pillows, or bean bags provide strong input into the body.
Again, all these activities need to be monitored closely to ensure the individual is not harming himself. Stop any activity that appears injurious. There are many other activities that can provide strong proprioceptive input. I recommend consulting with an Occupational Therapist to design strategies specific for your child.
This article was published in the brown book, “The Autism Discussion Page on stress, anxiety, shutdowns and meltdowns”
https://www.amazon.com/Autism-Discussion-Anxiety-Shutdowns-Meltdowns/dp/178592804X/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=bill+nason&qid=1553451610&s=gateway&sr=8-3
