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Guests at the Olympia Athletic Club in downtown Maryville have a variety of new services available to them courtesy of CTS Physical Therapy, which opened inside the athletic complex last month.

CTS Physical Therapy has been in business for six years and currently has four therapists at its primary office in Knoxville at 151 Market Place Blvd. near Cedar Bluff Road. At the beginning of March, CTS owner Piotr Ulmer -- with the help of the Olympia staff -- decided to venture south into Maryville.

"We were looking at Blount County and Olympia was looking for a physical therapist," Ulmer said. "They had extra space for us, so it all worked out well."

Ulmer said CTS Physical Therapy, which stands for "Contemporary Therapeutic Solutions," specializes in one-on-one appointments that are never rushed.

"We've been working on a lot of chronic pain in recent years," Ulmer told The Daily Times. "We treat all diagnosis -- including sports injuries, spinal problems and chronic illnesses.

"We even have a board-certified pediatric physical therapist in our Knoxville office who we can schedule in Maryville when needed."

Ulmer came to the United States from the Warsaw area of Poland in 1992. After living and working in Detroit, Ulmer and his wife, along with their three sons, moved to East Tennessee in 1999.

"We liked the people of Tennessee," Ulmer said. "I came down south to visit friends while I was living in Detroit and really liked it.

"In Detroit, people were cold and reserved. I was meeting my friend at Shoney's restaurant and everyone I encountered said 'hi' and asked me how I was doing. It was nice.

"I also don't like all the concrete up north -- I like nature and all the green we have here in East Tennessee."

CTS Physical Therapy specializes in the evaluation and management of sports injuries, chronic illnesses, neurological disorders and musculoskeletal problems. Ulmer says most insurance coverage is accepted by his practice.

Although located inside the Olympia Athletic Club, CTS Physical Therapy can see any patient at its new Maryville location regardless of whether the patient is an Olympic member or not.

To schedule an appointment with the Maryville office of CTS, located at 398 Olympia Drive, call (865) 588-8000.