Laser Proprioceptive Retraining
After a neck injury, the sensors that tell your brain where your head and joints are positioned can stop working accurately. Laser proprioceptive retraining measures that loss precisely, then retrains it.
What is proprioception?
Proprioception is your sense of joint position: the constant stream of information from receptors in muscles and joints that tells your brain where your body is in space without looking. After injury, particularly to the neck, these proprioceptors can become less accurate. That can show up as a neck that feels unreliable, clumsy head movements, or difficulty returning your head precisely to a neutral position.
How laser retraining works
We use a headband-mounted laser and target practice to accurately measure your joint position awareness. You perform controlled head movements and attempt to return the laser point to a target, which gives an objective picture of how accurate your position sense currently is.
The same setup then becomes the treatment: graded, laser-guided exercises give your nervous system precise visual feedback, helping restore normal proprioceptor function over a course of sessions. Because the starting point is measured, progress can be measured too.
Who it helps
Laser proprioceptive retraining is particularly useful for people recovering from neck injuries, including whiplash-type injuries, and for those with persistent neck pain where position sense has been affected. It is typically combined with hands-on treatment and exercise therapy addressing neck strength and mobility.
What to expect
Your first session includes a full neck assessment and baseline laser measurement. Retraining exercises are precise but low-effort and are not painful; most people find them surprisingly challenging in accuracy rather than strength. You will usually be given a simple version to practise at home between sessions.
Frequently asked questions
Is laser proprioceptive retraining painful?
No. The exercises involve small, controlled head movements guided by a laser pointer, and are gentle enough for most people recovering from neck injury.
How do I know if my proprioception is affected?
The baseline laser assessment measures how accurately you can reposition your head. Your physiotherapist compares your results with expected values and explains what they mean.
How many sessions does retraining take?
It varies with the injury and how long symptoms have been present. Because each session is measured against your baseline, you and your physiotherapist can see objectively when accuracy has returned to normal.