Mike is Nancy’s husband. Nancy has had a stroke.
“Laura Diamond is a treasure. She combines focus, connectedness, caring and skill. Her gift for healing has changed my life.”
Jean Hardisty, Senior Scholar, Wellesley Centers for Women
“Laura is amazing! I had shoulder surgery two years ago and was in Physical Therapy for months and it was not working. When the pain became unbearable and my shoulder and arm were getting weaker I was told I probably needed another operation. I was recommended to Laura by a friend; in a few short weeks I feel so much better. Laura’s innovative, knowledgeable and personal approach are unique and comprehensive. I am hopeful that with her continued work I can avoid having more surgery.”
Astrid Williams, Concord MA
“Megan has a great way with my 6 year old son with Cerebral Palsy (Right Hemiplegia) that honors him, his growing independence, self-awareness and advocacy, needs and opportunities of his body. I scoured the earth for Laura almost 4 years ago. Our family has traveled far and wide (Alabama, Virginia, NYC, etc.) for the best care and therapies and the Universe gave us a break that the best in this discipline is right here in the Greater Boston area. Laura scoured the Earth for Megan. From these years working with Laura and Megan, my son swims with family and friends, in community swim classes. He loves, is safe in, and participates fully in the water. It’s wonderful for his body and spirit.”
– Jordyne, Mom, Newton
“I met Laura Diamond during a time when I was experiencing severe back pain from muscle spasm and arthritis made worse by MS neurologic changes. I was looking for relief and a way to exercise. Up until then I had only temporary relief from land based physical and massage therapy. I had been a competitive swimmer long ago but as I became weaker with MS I became afraid to swim. My body was so strange. I could not trust it to behave as it used to and I tired quickly. But I loved the water. My physical therapist, friends and family all encouraged me to get in the water. My fear stopped me.”
“Then I met Laura. Laura understood my fears and could teach to my level of disability. She worked with me to develop strategies to overcome my fears. She guided me reminding me of old techniques, which I could draw on for safety, and swimming. She reassured me that I could become stronger. She helped me relax. My pain always was better as I spent time in the water and lasted for days. We developed a routine of water walking, swimming and passive and active stretching, which has now become an invaluable part of my self-care.”
“I feel incredibly fortunate to have met Laura. Her compassionate, experienced, intelligent approach to aqua therapy is remarkable. I hope that many other persons with similar challenges to my own could find comfort and guidance from her care.”
Liz Kopin, MD
Joni had a total hip replacement and came to Laura after she got worse with traditional physical therapy.
“Laura’s repertoire of possibilities to help me seems inexhaustible; Laura is inventive, insightful, and artful in choosing from them.”
Robin Cohen, Newton MA
“Laura and Megan are so kind and nice. You should try it to get strong muscles. I recommend it!”
Sylvie
“Loved the pace, the knowledge Laura has, and the warmth she exudes”
Jill, Concord MA
“Jacob has been in physical and occupational therapy in some form since he was 7 months old. No other therapist has connected with Jacob in the same way that Laura has. She pushes him to do things he doesn’t think he can do, without him even realizing it! Her manner with him is amazing, and he actually looks forward to his sessions with her. As his parents, we trust that she has his best interests at heart, and that she truly cares about him and the progress that he makes. ”
Lynn W., Mother of Jacob
“Everyone is interested in results and the therapists at Diamond Physical Therapy Associates get results. I can attribute their successes and my patients’ accelerated recoveries to the exceptional care being offered by this group and to the benefits of aquatic physical therapy.”
Gigi Girgis, MD, Neurologist Affiliated with Waltham Deaconess Hospital
Nathan is 15 years old and has cerebral palsy. Listen to him talk about what aquatic physical therapy does for him.
“As a veteran of eight months of physical therapy for back surgery, I have been treated by at least half a dozen physical therapists. None of them have been as helpful or healing as the combination of Laura Diamond’s skills and her water therapy.”
“Water therapy is, itself, a wondrous form of rehabilitation – especially if you need to build your core strength and restore weakened muscles. But even therapy in the water would not accomplish as much as its combination with a therapist like Laura. She gives her clients/patients her undivided attention during the entire session. Your every move is attended to, so that you learn how to move and how not to move. Much of what I learned from Laura had never been mentioned to me by either doctors or other therapists. ”
“I recommend her for anyone who is frustrated and discouraged by the prospect of a long recovery. She makes it fun, is exceptionally caring, and brings you along at a pace that is realistic, but intended to get you to your goal before the next millennium.”
Jean Hardisty, Senior Scholar, Wellesley Centers for Women
“As the parent of a child with SMA, I have become so accustomed to doctors, clinicians and educators talking to me about limitations. Our experiences with Laura have been the polar opposite. While making every effort to understand our son and his medical needs fully, she focuses on all the things he can do and where we can push past his current limitations. Working with Laura always makes him feel strong, confident and happy. To see the look on his face when he gets to really move on his own – his whole body rolling and dancing in the water, is pure joy. We have found Laura’s knowledge, skill and dedication to be both unique and downright magical.”
Kate, Mother, Natick MA
“I wanted to take the opportunity to let you and your wonderful staff know how much I appreciate the work you have done with my daughter Jessica.
Jessica has always been very afraid of swimming, an activity which could offer considerable benefits to her as she has spastic cerebral palsy. Along with the physical disabilities, Jessica is unable to speak and uses a communication book and gestures to communicate. Since you and your staff have worked with Jessica, she has undergone a welcome transformation.
With patient guidance, she has grown from fear of the water, to a sense of confidence, and now to outright joy as she initiates and even implements parts of her own program. I find it surprising that at 30 years of age Jessica would make so much progress–in both confidence and skill–in a relatively short period.
I believe the confidence she has gained through aquatic physical therapy has made a difference in many areas of her life. The therapy has become one of her favorite activities; she comes home proud of what she has accomplished each time she goes. The physical benefits have been many. Since Jessi uses a wheelchair, exercise is difficult. Her therapy program has helped her gain strength and flexibility, both of which have helped with her ability to produce her artwork. Also, Jessi has managed to maintain her weight at a good level, having lost 4 pounds and kept them off for the past year.
I especially appreciate your foresight to equip Jessica’s personal assistant with the knowledge and skills she needs to implement the program with Jessica. They have helped bring about a major change in her life, one that will have lasting benefits!”
Janet R. Vohs, Mother
