Effects of a Spine-Focused Proprioceptive Exercise Mesocycle Using the Max-MAE on Perceived Postural Control: A Pre-Post Pilot Study

Background: Physical exercise plays a crucial role in postural control and neuromuscular regulation, contributing to body awareness and movement efficiency. However, evidence on spine-focused proprioceptive interventions and their effects on perceived postural control remains limited. Objective: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effects of a spine-focused proprioceptive training protocol on perceived postural control in individuals without prior specific training experience. Methods: A pre-post quasi-experimental pilot study was conducted on 30 participants (aged 6–60). Participants completed a 4-week proprioceptive exercise mesocycle consisting of 12 sessions using the Max-MAE device. Perceived postural control was measured before (T0) and after (T1) the intervention using the Spinal Proprioceptive Perception Questionnaire (SPPQ-18). Data distribution was examined through the Shapiro–Wilk test. Differences between pre- and post-intervention scores were analysed using a paired-samples t-test and confirmed with the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results: A significant increase in SPPQ-18 scores was observed following the intervention (t(29) = −16.38, p .001). The non-parametric analysis confirmed these findings (Z = −4.70, p .001). Conclusion: The findings suggest that the proposed protocol may improve perceived postural control. Spine-focused proprioceptive training could represent a useful approach in preventive, educational, and rehabilitative contexts. Further studies with controlled designs are needed to confirm these results.