HBN Shoe, the company that developed Insolia inserts to offer women more comfort when wearing high heels, has been awarded the American Podiatric Medical Association's (APMA) Seal of Acceptance.

The APMA seal programme was established to inform consumers and podiatric physicians about products whose quality, safety and effectiveness allow for normal foot function and promote good foot health.

In the 1980s Dr Howard Dananberg, a podiatrist and inventor of the Insolia, pioneered the use of computerised in-shoe pressure testing in his medical practice. In-shoe pressure sensing provided him with a new perspective on various problems of both feet and shoes. Using this technology, Dr Dananberg discovered that high heels shift weight to the forefoot and place the body out-of-balance. From a physical point of view the only logical solution to the effects of high heels was to reverse this weight shift. At the end of 2005 after having been built into millions of pairs of shoes sold by many different brands world-wide, the Insolia weight shift solution became available direct to consumers for use in any high heel shoe of their choice.

Insolia Inserts are made of a clear firmer than gel yet softer than plastic material specially developed to match the properties of the bottom of the foot. They are said to improve body alignment and ankle stability while reducing forefoot pressure and leg and lower back fatigue.