Doris Collier often heard her husband, a retired physician, talk about the number of people he treated for foot or lower back pain caused by standing for long periods of time on concrete.

As a result, she created Happy Feet in May 2005 to market shoe insoles to manufacturing and production workers to alleviate pain and to prevent injury.

“I set out to find the best ergonomic shoe insole in the world,” she said. “These are heavy-duty insoles, and they are designed specifically for men and women who work on concrete. These are like having an ergonomic mat in your shoes wherever you go in the plant.”

Her husband, Dr. Nathan Collier, said the idea was all his wife’s, but he helped her research the different types of insoles available.

“I have been amazed and dismayed at the amount of crippling pathology we have found as a result of prolonged walking or standing on hard surfaces such as concrete,” he said. “I have been delighted with touching stories from workers of immediate relief of a variety of conditions from feet to lower back (as a result of the ergonomic insoles).”

“The combination of shock absorbency and energy return is unbeatable in my opinion,” Dr. Collier said.

Ms. Collier declined to discuss annual sales figures, but she said that after taking the insoles directly to the companies where she knew workers were required to stand for long periods, workers are walking on Happy Feet insoles at Pilgrim’s Pride, Bush Beans, Sara Lee Foods, Koch Foods, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Bausch & Lomb and Merita Bread, among others.

She said Tyson Foods recently made the company international, by using their product at facilities in Canada and Mexico.

A pair of insoles from Happy Feet costs about $21 and comes with a one-year unconditional guarantee. They are approved by the American Podiatric Medical Association, Ms. Collier said.

Happy Feet is based in Gadsden, Ala., but the Colliers soon will relocate the company to Chattanooga to be closer to their granddaughter, Ella Kate. She inspired the name of an insole designed specifically for children that is expected to be available next year.

It will be called “EK,” taken from her granddaughter’s initials, Ms. Collier said.