StandStrong Blog

Foot pain knows no social class, race, or gender. Some of us have more foot pain than others, yet we don’t have to ask too far to find people who have their share of foot issues.

While podiatrists may treat more advanced foot pain disorders, with complicating factors like diabetes or neuropathy to contend with-there are still lessons we can all learn from understanding common foot pain causes. While yours truly, Dr. Stand Strong, inherited a foot affecting neurological condition called Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disorder-many of the symptoms of that nerve disease are just magnified examples of the more common, run of the mill foot problems suffered by otherwise healthy and active women.

As a podiatrist with CMT, it is heartening to hear someone famous like American singer and songwriter Alan Jackson also inherited CMT.  Balance issues, foot deformity, and difficulty wearing normal shoes (or even cowboy boots) are all daily facts of life for this tribe.  And, the development of the Stand Strong® Arch was driven by studying how to decrease foot related pressure points (many causing callouses or corns), and helping to achieve a well aligned foot and leg-leading to better balance and less low back, hip and knee pains.

While a progressive disease like CMT oftentimes leaves the individual with profound weakness and loss of sensation in the foot and lower leg, even the common treatments like bracing with an “AFO”, or ankle foot orthoses can cause secondary pressure points, pain, and even ulceration of the skin from chronic rubbing or poor fitting rigid orthoses.

The Stand Strong® arch is designed to minimize excess pressure points on isolated areas of the foot. Many of us have felt pain in one area of the ball of the foot, for example. Proper placement of this stick on arch support can relieve the pressure, and help the pain because of that. Please let us know your experience with this novel remedy!

Keep On Standing Strong!
Dr. Stand Strong

Hello fellow Stand Strong warrior! You are to be commended in taking care of your foot pain. 

Stand Strong® Arch Supports are "In Step With The Way You Live"!

Your Stand Strong® arches help to balance and realign not only the foot, but also the way in which your leg muscles help support and direct your foot posture and motion during walking and running. Many of our women have suffered for YEARS with foot and ankle pain, before finding the Stand Strong® arch.

First, play with the positioning of the narrow end of the support on the ball of your foot. You will likely find that some areas are quite tender, and you want the arch support to “offload” that area, that is-move your weight bearing pressure to areas that AREN’T sore. If not properly positioned, the metatarsal support (narrow end) can actually increase your pain. Generally speaking, you want the support centered behind your middle toe, in the center of your ball of foot region. Also please note: moving the support forward or back just a few millimeters can make a big difference as well.

Check out this video on proper placement:

Some feet adjust faster than others to the correction. Take your time, and wear the support for just an hour or two the first day you get them. Sometimes the heel is sore, and adjusting the positioning of the support can make a real difference right out of the box!

Oftentimes, you will feel the leg or even your knee adjust to the supports. This is generally a GOOD thing, but let your body have a break and don’t expect instant results. After years of misalignment, most women will need a few days to a few weeks to feel the full effect of the balance and support features of the Stand Strong® arch.

We are excited to hear from you, and welcome testimonials of all types. Let your voice be heard for all women, and let’s help you and others like you to Walk in Beauty!

Sincerely,
Dr. Stand Strong