Special Programs at Lake Orion

The purpose of the Back School program is to educate patients in the proper positioning of the spine for everyday activities. Whether you are performing activities of daily living at home like laundry, cleaning, and cooking or you are participating in recreational activities, proper spinal position is crucial in maintaining a healthy spine and preventing injury.

Points of emphasis include:

• Lifting techniques
• Performing transfers from different body positions
• Reducing stress on the spine with appropriate strengthening and flexibility exercises for the entire body

Back School education is designed to minimize the risk of injury both before and after neck and/or back problems occur. Knowledge is the best tool that you can have in preventing future injuries and managing existing ones.

The Thrower’s Ten program will benefit anyone who participates in activities requiring a repetitive overhead throwing/serving motion. Each movement is designed to improve strength, power, and endurance of the shoulder and arm muscles.

Proper mechanics of the shoulder joint and its surrounding structures is crucial in preventing damage that can last a lifetime. With minimal equipment, athletes can perform this series of exercises in the comfort of their own home to help stabilize the dynamic motions that occur with the overhead throwing motion. Routines can further be individualized to suit the needs for specific sports such as baseball, softball, volleyball, and football.

Following any type of injury, returning to work for patients can cause major concern and anxiety. Sometimes, work restrictions put in place by the medical community are not enough to protect the well-being of the injured patient.

Patients are often worried that they will slow the healing process, or worse, reinjure themselves as they return to the workforce. Through this program, patients will be educated in proper sitting ergonomics and work station set-up, including the proper height for chairs and desks, positioning of the computer, and telephone aids to minimize neck and back injuries.

In addition, patients will learn how to lift correctly and safely, how to position themselves to be more efficient with repetitive jobs, and how to decrease the stresses placed on the body no matter your occupation.

We offer the step-down program to all former patients of Orion Physical Therapy so they can continue to work out in a friendly and comfortable setting. All too often, patients stop performing their home exercise program once they are discharged from formal physical therapy due to busy schedules, lack of equipment, and fear of not doing the exercises correctly.

For a nominal fee ($20/month), former patients can sign up to use the facility during normal business hours to work out and maintain their health. Not only can they use all available amenities of the clinic, but they will also have access to the therapists and technicians to answer any questions they may have or solicit suggestions on workout progressions. Orion Physical Therapy is dedicated to making sure that we provide the most effective and long-term care for our patients.