FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NORTH OAKLAND COUNTY, MI — Special Strong, a leading adaptive fitness franchise dedicated to serving individuals with mental, physical, and cognitive challenges, today announced the launch of two new territories in North Oakland County, MI, under franchise owner Patricia Knickerbocker. A retired nurse and lifelong advocate for the special needs community, Knickerbocker brings both professional expertise and a profoundly personal connection to her new role.
After a long career in nursing, Knickerbocker stepped back from the clinical setting with a clear sense of where she wanted to invest her next chapter. Watching the special needs community navigate limited options for fitness and independence — and raising a daughter with special needs herself — she felt called to do something about it. Special Strong provided the framework to act on that calling.
“My 26-year-old special needs daughter is my hero. Any individual or family navigating the many challenges that come with having a special needs loved one — they are truly my heroes.”
— Patricia Knickerbocker, Franchise Owner, Special Strong North Oakland County
What set Special Strong apart was the science behind the program. Knickerbocker was drawn to the franchise’s neuroscience-based approach to adaptive fitness — a methodology designed not just to build physical strength, but to support cognitive independence and whole-person growth. “The neuroscience behind their fitness programs is unique,” she said. “It is really geared toward helping individuals become more independent both in mind and body.”
Special Strong’s flexible delivery model — offering private sessions, group training, and in-home programming — also aligned with her vision for meeting clients where they are. For Knickerbocker, that commitment to accessibility and inclusion is what makes the mission meaningful.
Care as a Calling
Knickerbocker’s years in nursing instilled in her the disciplines that transfer directly to serving Special Strong athletes: compassion, consistency, and a relentless focus on the individual in front of her. “This business is not about the income,” she said. “It is about helping others. What could be more rewarding than making a real difference in an individual’s and family’s life?”
Special Strong North Oakland County serves two territories across North Oakland County, MI.
About Special Strong
Founded in 2016, Special Strong provides adaptive fitness training for children, adolescents, and adults with mental, physical, and cognitive challenges. Through its rapidly growing franchise model, Special Strong empowers communities to offer inclusive fitness programs that improve health, build confidence, and promote independence. With a foundation built on faith and service, Special Strong continues to expand nationwide, making a lasting impact one life at a time.
