As a Teaching School Principal, I work in an organisation where I need to be active and on my feet for most of the day. My lifestyle outside the workplace is an active one build around my love of the sport. In 2011 through training and running for a marathon, I developed foot and ankle pain which turned out to be the onset of a fallen arch and eventually a mid-foot drop. After visiting a consultant he was reluctant to offer surgery as an option and preferred to manage the injury through the use of Orthotics which caused a lack of flexibility with the foot and ankle when walking.
I felt deterioration in my condition and could see no improvement after a year’s use. I felt restricted in carrying out many of my daily practices and became very conscious of a limp that I was developing. In searching the internet for a solution to my concern I read about the work of Mr David Hallowell at “Northern Ireland Foot and Ankle Clinic” and his work in the development of an ankle rocker brace. After meeting with him I felt confident that he could address my concerns and after an evaluation, he made and fitted me with a personalised orthotic rocker brace. It was moulded around my injury and fitted very comfortably so much so that within a few weeks it relieved much of the pain giving me a sense of flexibility within my foot.
I would say it put the “spring” back into my footstep. The aftercare that David gave was very reassuring and I believe that he sees each patient’s injury as a goal to improve the quality of their life. David follows up his work and ensures that if adjustments need to made, to your treatment then they are carried out. Through the flexibility and comfort of the personalised orthotic, much of the restriction I was experiencing was reduced, I find that I can walk further distances and I certainly don’t have that sense of limping, more importantly, I feel more confident in my movements. I would thoroughly recommend that if you are experiencing foot or ankle pain that you visit and speak with David. I think you may find a solution to your concerns.