Miami Valley Today News

Rotarians Talk Concussions and Vertigo

You don't have to get hit on the head to suffer a concussion or to have problems with vertigo, balance, and dizziness. Troy Rotarians hosted Sarah Conover of Xcel Sports Medicine during the club's weekly meeting on Dec. 12th and learned more about her specialty in concussion and vestibular rehabilitation.

A licensed physical therapist, Conover has her own practice within Xcel Sports Medicine, which has locations in Anna, Vandalia, and Beavercreek. She works with patients who are either referred to her by a physician or those who seek her consultation on their own.

Vestibular rehabilitation involves issues related to the inner ear. Such problems can result from trouble with strength, flexibility, weight, medicine, sleep deprivation, and blood pressure, among others. Eighty percent of her patient interactions are related to vestibular issues, while the other 20 percent are general interactions, such as rehabilitation related to Parkinson's Disease. Conover provides therapy and training for balance, dizziness, vertigo, and concussion injuries.

Nationwide, more than two million concussion injuries are reported. Of these, 90 percent involve no loss of consciousness and are rarely diagnosed on imaging such as MRIs. While many of her patients are athletes, particularly of a young age, she sees many older folks with concussions from falls, auto accidents, and vertigo. The most common form of vertigo is Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (or BPPV), a false sensation of spinning that is caused by calcium carbonate crystals loosening and shifting from the utricle to a canal. It is a common ailment that becomes more prevalent as a person ages. To treat it, Conover mechanically manipulates the patient's head to relocate those crystals back to their proper place, often in just a few visits. To learn more, visit www.xcelsportsmedicine.com.

Troy Rotarians and the Troy Rotary Foundation support several community projects annually. During the 2016-17 Rotary year, over $16,000 in scholarships and community aid was distributed from the fund, including support for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library program, Rotary's annual Shoe Project, academic and community service scholarships, and sponsorships to summer camps at Brukner Nature Center and WACO Air Museum. In addition to the financial support, Rotarians volunteered nearly 400 hours to several service projects. The Troy Rotary Club is a member-involved, goal-oriented service club focused on socio/economic issues that have an impact both locally and internationally. Follow the organization's activities on Facebook at Troy Rotary Club. To learn more about Rotary and membership in the club, please visit www.troyohiorotary.org.