Bollettieri opens Lakewood home

LAKEWOOD RANCH —  Bollettieri Sports Therapy Center welcomed guests into its new, permanent 2,500-square-foot location during a special grand opening celebration Feb. 25.

“This is something we’ve been working on for over three years,” said Bob Paisie, physical therapist for the center. “It’s been a long time coming. I’m excited to be out in the Lakewood Ranch area.”

Guests had a chance to sample hors d’oeuvres and wine while touring the facility, which includes a waiting area, four individual therapy rooms and a large gym area with a variety of exercise equipment.

“The best part is the view,” Paisie said, pointing toward a panel of windows on the back wall. “You get to see Main Street and everything. Everyone seems to enjoy (the new location).”

The Bollettieri Sports Therapy Center, which provides therapy services to athletes and local residents at the internationally acclaimed IMG Academies in Bradenton, began talking with Lakewood Ranch Medical Center about opening an office in the East County about three years ago. At IMG, the center already treats residents along with students at the academy and other athletes, Paisie said.

“We thought it would be nice to expand (the program),” Paisie said.

The therapy center began leasing a temporary space at the hospital in August 2009. The new, permanent location in Suite 310 of Medical Office Building 1 opened in early January, and Paisie has been settling in to the location since.

“It was like starting all over again,” he said of the move.

Lakewood Ranch Medical Center CEO Jim Wilson said the hospital is thrilled to have the center open and available for residents and that Bollettieri will provide direct support to the hospital’s orthopedic floor, which opened in June 2009.

“Bollettieri is a prestigious name in the sports and training industry,” Wilson said. “We feel Lakewood Ranch is a prestigious hospital. It’s a wonderful marriage of two quality organizations.”

For more information about Bollettieri Sports Therapy, visit www.bollettieri-sportsmed.com.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].