Touch, as one of our five senses, is our most primitive sense. In fact, many may think that the sense of touch is the first sense that we experience. From birth we are touched and cared for. This experience of being held and nurtured is vital to the child’s development. Touch is a sense we often experience in everyday life, but do not realize the significance of it.
The sense of touch is used in sports, but is frequently overlooked. When a player hits a homerun, scores the tying point, or makes a big play he is commonly congradulated with a friendly butt slap. Although this seems like a nonchalant reaction to a great play, there is more to the butt slap than congradulations. Butt slaps also reveal how close the two players are. Freshman Lacrosse player Max Levine explains, “I personally think that the closer two teammates are with each other, the farther down their slaps will be” (Doman).
Touch has also been experienced by people without limbs, which is refered to as a phantom limb. People without limbs have reportedly found that their phantom limbs act as though it is still there, causeing them for example to reach for a cup of coffe that is not there. Some people with phantom limbs experience excrutiating pain from the cut off nerves in their stump. Phantom limbs can supposedly be treated by a number of methods including, “vibration therapy, acupuncture, hypnosis and biofeedback” (“Phantom limb”).
In our society touch is quite valuable and often unseen. According to Rodha Watson, “Touch is an important means of communication. Agentle squeeze of the arm, a good hug, an arm across someone’s shoulders, a light tap on the hand. All of these speak volumes without a word being said” (Watson). Touch as an important means of communication and as the first experience from birth should not be overlooked or taken for granted.
Word Cited
Doman, Mary. “The extra-low five: the art of the butt touch.” JUH Newsletter. 26 April 2007. JUH. 27 Sept. 2007. <http://media.www.juhnewsletter.com/media/storage/paper932/news>
“Phantom Limb.” Wikipedia. 10 Oct. 2007. Wikimedia Foundation. 10 Oct. 2007. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phantom_limb>
Watson, Rhoda. “The common touch.” Nursing Older People Vol. 17 Issue 1 44-45.
