My Story 11

Emotionally, I am also much more balanced, and my tendancies toward emotional outbursts (including temper tantrums) and depression have vanished. This is a fantastic relief as previously such reactions were very frustrating as I knew somehow, deep down, that I didn't have any control over them, yet I could never rationalise why.

No matter how well one can visualise what life may be like without pain, how you feel when it actually happens - spontaneously by wearing custom-made thin biomechanical devices in your shoes, is a truly awe-inspiring and humbling experience.

Even though I can see with my own eyes the impact the orthotics have had on my body, I still continue to be dumfounded by the immense range of seemingly unrelated symptoms and problems (some which I wasn't even aware I had!) that simply disappear just from wearing them.

Running now feels effortless, whereas before I found it incredibly difficult and was always the last one to finish any race at school. Breathing is so much freer and easier, whereas before the inability to breathe properly doe to poor posture meant that I gradually gave up playing the clarinet, a hobby that I had loved. I can now touch my toes, which was literally a physical impossibility before, I can walk for significantly longer than 10 minutes without getting backache, I have a greater sense of freedom and movement and my emotional response to many types of situations has become more balanced.

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