Your body is dealing with it right now and you don’t even know it.

“Balance is considered the 6th sense,” says Nathalie Grondin, a physical therapist with Lee Memorial Health System. While you are working, eating, even sleeping, your body is literally performing a balancing act. Your senses all working together to keep you stable. “What I mean is the senses that help us with balance: the eyes, the inner ear, and the sense of touch through the feet and hands. As soon as one goes, the others have to up their game if you will, and compensate for that problem,” explains Grondin.

Oftentimes, fixing a balance problem can be as easy as a few physical therapy sessions. Therapists hone in on four different areas, the first is called the base of support. “We’ll have the person just slightly touch something in front of them so it’s manipulating the base of support,” says Grondin. Then it’s on to visual cues. “Eyes open is easier than eyes closed,” she adds. Surface challenges are the next step. “This is where the foam cushion comes in or the rocker board. Manipulating the surface; making it more challenging.” Adding extra movement is part of the head positioning phase. “Just standing like this is easy, but if I say, ok, now add had movements. It’s like a recipe, different ingredients that make that level harder and harder to achieve.”

Falls or stumbles aren’t the only signs of a balance problem. If you find yourself looking down a lot, moving slower, touching tables or counters to feel more secure, or even standing with your feet wide apart, those could all be signs that you may need to see your physician.