Patent ID: 7780581

Claim:
An apparatus, comprising: a rigid foot plate comprising a foot support surface adapted to support a shoe worn on a foot of a user at a plurality of different fixed reference positions along a centerline of the surface; first and second support members which extend from opposing sides of the foot support surface; a first retention strap comprising a medial portion configured to extend across and retain said foot to the surface and opposing first and second ends each removeably attachable to the respective first and second support members by the user, wherein the first retention strap, the support members and the surface are configured to maintain the first retention strap in a semi-circular arc nominally symmetric about a longitudinal centerline of the surface, the arc having a width greater than a width of the surface to facilitate insertion of the foot between the first retention strap and the surface along said centerline, wherein during said insertion the first retention strap limits further movement of the foot along said centerline upon contacting engagement of the shoe with the first retention strap to establish a selected fixed reference position for the shoe relative to the surface; and a second retention strap coupled to the first and second support members and configured to be subsequently cinched to attach and retain said foot to said surface after said insertion, wherein a selected one of the first or second retention straps extends adjacent an arch portion of the foot, and wherein a remaining one of the first or second retention straps extends adjacent a heel portion of the foot.