To demonstrate the delicacy of balance in MS does not require a high wire act at the circus. Walking across a carpet with a thick pile or attempting to maneuver through a park's unleveled ground is all that is needed to prove this. A sneeze constantly demonstrates Newton's Third Law of Thermodynamics. If you're not holding on to something, you might be picking yourself up off the floor. Carrying a box in one's arms throws off whatever is left of one precious balance and interferes with that seemingly minor activity.
Most physical therapists feel that exercises can help to improve balance.
It may require an individual to be looking at his or her feet to make sure that one is positioning them correctly. By necessity, an MS patient with loss of balance will develop a wide-based gait to have more steadiness. The use of a cane provides a third limb, turning a person into a tripod. This helps by giving a broader base of support. Many clients use a cane outside the home where there aren't any convenient walls to provide balance.