Adolescents who are in the midst of their growth spurt may show clumsiness. They are growing so fast that they have not had time to adjust their perceptions to their new body dimensions. Consequently, they are more likely to bump into things.
Another dramatic example of the kinesthetic sense is phantom limb. Many amputees report that they can still feel their limbs even though they have been removed. Typical sensations are itching or burning pains. The limb is gone, but the brain still thinks it is there. For example, Ronald Reagan's (1965) biography was titled Where's the Rest of Me?. The title came from a line in a movie in which he played a wounded, double-amputee veteran who shouted that line when he first discovered his missing legs.
- What is Phantom Limb Pain?--text, basic, short, links
- Description of symptoms of phantom limb. http://www.mediconsult.com/general/shareware/pain_control/what_l.html
- Proprioception, Kinesthesia, and Motor Reflexes--tutorial, interm., long, links, graphics
- Page covers nearly all aspects of proprioception, kinesthesia, and motor reflexes. Has color graphics included with its explanations. http://nan.drexel.edu/nan/neuroanatomy/lectures/lec12b/lec12b.html