ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Elizabeth Strub is taking a yoga class at Asheville Community Yoga. It’s something she started after two hip surgeries. 

“I needed to do things after I had recovered from all of that to get back into some strength,” Strub said. 

Strength and balance are a few keys to preventing falls. Strub says yoga helped her realize how her whole body must work to achieve strength and balance.  

“It’s helped me to see things that I can do and how our balance is actually impacted by our feet. I did not understand that my foot needed to be stronger,” Strub said. 

This class is one example of a partnership with the N.C. Falls Prevention Coalition, a part of the North Carolina Center for Health and Wellness. It works to create awareness about the impact of falls. This week is also Falls Prevention Awareness Week.

There are several ways to prevent falls, including talking to a health care provider about any fears of falling, exercising to improve balance and strength, getting your eyes, ears and feet checked annually and making your home safer.  

For Strub, she said the time to start learning how to prevent falls is before they happen. 

“I think people that are reaching certain ages need to start doing it a little bit sooner, instead of waiting until you’re really wobbly or whatever the reasons are,” Strub said.

According to the CDC, falls are the leading cause of injury for adults 65 and over, and falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries among older adults.

For information about falls prevention events this week visit Standing Strong NC.