Mark Liddle, a 53-year-old New Zealander born with Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita (clubfoot), has transformed his life over the past two years through innovative leg braces that freed him from debilitating pain.
After growing up playing sports, Liddle's condition gradually worsened with age, making walking increasingly painful. Rather than pursuing amputation, a friend named Jennie Jackson introduced him to specialized braces from the United States called ExoSym, designed by a prosthetist and commonly used for injured soldiers.
"I was having cortisone injections in my ankles on a six-monthly basis but having that too often was not great for my health," Liddle explained about his previous treatment approach.
The impact of these braces has been profound: "The braces have completely changed my life - taken all the pain away," he said. "I can walk without pain, walk the dog, walk with my wife and the huge side of it is the psychological aspect of it. It's taken a lot of weight and anxiety of what life might bring."
With his newfound mobility, Liddle has achieved the remarkable feat of completing a 12km traverse in the Auckland Marathon, describing it as "an incredible feeling" and "quite emotional, to set a target and achieve it." This achievement was particularly meaningful as he noted, "It was always limited to a couple of Ks as a kid and to do 12km is just sensational."
Liddle participated in the marathon to raise awareness for The Arthrogryposis Group (TAG-NZ), a charitable trust supporting others with the same disability. He continues advocating for increased awareness, especially for families with children affected by the condition.
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