Discomfort When Bearing Weight: What It Is and How to Book a Consultation Service for Its Treatment Through StrongBody AI
Discomfort when bearing weight refers to pain, pressure, or instability felt when standing, walking, or applying force to a limb—typically the foot or ankle. This symptom is commonly associated with injuries, especially foot sprains.
If you're experiencing discomfort when bearing weight due to a foot sprain, you may notice:
- Swelling or bruising
- Tenderness around the foot or ankle
- Difficulty walking
- A sensation of weakness or instability in the joint
A foot sprain is an injury to the ligaments in the foot caused by overstretching or tearing. It typically occurs from twisting the foot awkwardly, sports activity, or slipping on uneven surfaces.
Key signs of a foot sprain include:
- Discomfort when bearing weight
- Swelling and bruising
- Limited range of motion
- Popping sound or sensation at the time of injury
Sprains are classified by severity:
- Grade 1: Mild stretching and microscopic tearing
- Grade 2: Partial ligament tear with moderate loss of function
- Grade 3: Complete ligament tear, often requiring immobilization or surgery
A discomfort when bearing weight consultant service helps patients determine the cause of their foot pain and guides recovery. For foot sprains, this service includes:
- Initial injury assessment
- Severity grading and imaging referrals (X-ray or MRI)
- Pain management strategy
- Recovery exercises and physical therapy planning
Experts may include orthopedic physicians, sports medicine doctors, physical therapists, and podiatrists.
Managing discomfort when bearing weight due to a foot sprain involves both immediate care and long-term rehabilitation:
- R.I.C.E. Protocol: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation to reduce swelling and pain.
- Pain Relief: NSAIDs like ibuprofen to manage inflammation.
- Bracing or Taping: To stabilize the foot during healing.
- Physical Therapy: Exercises to restore balance, strength, and flexibility.
- Surgical Evaluation: For severe sprains or those unresponsive to conservative care.
Prompt attention can speed healing and prevent chronic ankle instability.
- Dr. Jonathan Hayes – Sports Orthopedist (USA)
Renowned for non-surgical management of foot and ankle sprains in athletes. - Dr. Priya Das – Physical Medicine Specialist (India)
Expert in rehabilitation therapy and musculoskeletal injury recovery. - Dr. Henrik Bauer – Orthopedic Foot Surgeon (Germany)
Specializes in foot biomechanics and surgical consultation for severe sprains. - Dr. Layla Hamdan – Sports Injury Consultant (UAE)
Bilingual care with experience in sprains from physical activity or accident trauma. - Dr. Pedro Alvarez – Physical Therapist (Mexico)
Focuses on ankle stabilization and gait correction during post-sprain recovery. - Dr. Arooj Siddiqui – Family & Sports Physician (Pakistan)
Trusted for immediate injury care and long-term pain management. - Dr. Alex Tan – Foot & Ankle Specialist (Singapore)
Combines orthopedic care with custom orthotic recommendations. - Dr. Teresa Collins – Rehabilitation Coach (Canada)
Offers post-sprain recovery plans via virtual sessions and movement tracking. - Dr. Ahmed El-Sayed – Emergency Orthopedic Consultant (Egypt)
Handles acute pain and difficulty bearing weight with precision. - Dr. Anabelle White – Functional Movement Expert (Australia)
Guides patients from pain to full activity through personalized therapy.
Region | Entry-Level Experts | Mid-Level Experts | Senior-Level Experts |
North America | $120 – $250 | $250 – $400 | $400 – $700+ |
Western Europe | $100 – $220 | $220 – $350 | $350 – $600+ |
Eastern Europe | $50 – $90 | $90 – $150 | $150 – $270+ |
South Asia | $15 – $50 | $50 – $100 | $100 – $200+ |
Southeast Asia | $25 – $70 | $70 – $130 | $130 – $240+ |
Middle East | $60 – $130 | $130 – $250 | $250 – $400+ |
Australia/NZ | $90 – $180 | $180 – $320 | $320 – $500+ |
South America | $30 – $80 | $80 – $140 | $140 – $260+ |
In the soft Mediterranean light of the 2025 World Congress on Sports Medicine in Barcelona, a tender documentary about everyday people overcoming persistent ankle injuries brought the international audience to tears—doctors, therapists, and athletes alike moved by raw human resilience.
One story resonated deeply: that of Sofia Andersson, a 39-year-old landscape architect and passionate cross-country skier from Stockholm, Sweden. Sofia had always found solace in the silent winter forests of Jämtland, gliding over frozen lakes on weekends to escape the intensity of designing urban green spaces in the city. That harmony fractured one stormy January afternoon in 2025.
She was hurrying across an icy sidewalk near her Södermalm office when her left foot slipped into a hidden pothole. The ankle rolled severely—a grade II sprain with ligament damage and deep soft-tissue trauma. Swelling surged, but the lasting agony was a relentless discomfort when bearing weight: a deep, nagging ache that flared with every step, as if the foot could no longer trust the ground. Standing during client presentations became torturous; navigating Stockholm’s cobblestone streets triggered throbbing exhaustion; even short ski prep walks with her husky, Luna, ended in pained retreat. Nights pulsed with unrest, eroding her spirit.
Swedish specialists diagnosed chronic post-sprain proprioceptive dysfunction and gait alteration prolonging weight-bearing intolerance. “Time and targeted rehab,” they said. Yet time yielded little. Months later, prolonged standing sparked burning flares; family ski trips loomed impossible; the vast Nordic winters felt confining.
Sofia fought fiercely to reclaim her body. She visited elite clinics in Stockholm and Uppsala, spent thousands of kronor on private physiotherapy, custom carbon-fiber orthotics, extracorporeal shockwave therapy, advanced compression systems, and cryotherapy chambers. She tried every digital aid—AI rehab platforms, virtual balance trainers, chatbot symptom analyzers that reviewed gait videos and photos. They provided rote sequences: “Single-leg stands daily,” “Progressive weight shift,” without clarifying why discomfort worsened after routine design reviews or why her ankle wavered on uneven office floors.
Isolation grew heavy. In a Swedish outdoor enthusiasts’ recovery forum, Sofia read a post praising StrongBody AI—a groundbreaking platform connecting patients worldwide to top specialists for continuous, data-driven personalized care beyond generic algorithms.
That evening, foot elevated by her window overlooking Stockholm’s snowy archipelago, Sofia signed up. She uploaded precise photos of the residual swelling, synced her activity tracker data revealing pain spikes during weight shifts, logged detailed journals linking discomfort to work hours and winter cold, and shared how it dimmed her creative passion and ski dreams. The platform soon matched her with Dr. Matteo Lombardi, an Italian sports orthopaedist based in Milan with 20 years of experience. Dr. Lombardi had rehabilitated alpine skiers and led research on real-time monitoring to restore weight-bearing stability after complex sprains.
Their first video consultation amazed Sofia. Dr. Lombardi examined her uploads thoroughly, asking about her ski boot fit, ergonomic desk setup in Stockholm’s long winters, hydration amid dry indoor heating, stress from project deadlines, even how childhood summers in the Swedish countryside shaped her balance expectations. He dissected the tracker data, uncovering subtle compensatory patterns straining the joint.
“I’ve exhausted everything,” Sofia confessed, voice trembling. “I fear I’ll never ski freely again—or design without this endless ache.”
His reassuring words warmed her: “We’ll interpret your body’s daily signals together and restore natural confidence in every step.”
Skepticism arrived promptly. Her parents urged, “Darling, return to the Karolinska physiotherapist—they can assess you properly.” Colleagues questioned “remote doctors on apps.” Her brother called it “another costly experiment.” Sofia nearly paused the program.
But the attentive, evolving guidance held her steady. Dr. Lombardi analyzed weekly photos and logs, refining non-impact core work initially, then customized partial loading for urban walks, suggesting anti-inflammatory Scandinavian diet adjustments, and addressing cold-induced stiffness. He remembered every detail intuitively, making her feel truly seen across the Baltic.
Then came the night that shifted everything.
Six months in, Sofia awoke at 4 a.m. to piercing discomfort after a late design session. Attempting to stand for tea unleashed grinding pain; her foot rebelled against weight entirely, swelling ballooning. Panic surged—she dreaded permanent setback. Alone while her partner attended a conference in Oslo, Luna pacing anxiously, she opened the StrongBody AI app with chilled fingers.
The system detected the emergency via her entry and tracker surge. In seconds, Dr. Lombardi appeared on video, calm despite the Italian dawn.
“Sofia, stay off it—show me the ankle and describe the pain on gentle flexion.”
He guided precise elevation, subtle circulation techniques, and remote vigilance until the crisis eased. Stability returned within the hour.
Tears fell then—not from hurt, but profound gratitude for this instant, expert connection spanning Europe.
From that moment, hesitation turned to complete trust. Sofia embraced the tailored path fully: progressive loading on snowy park simulations, gait retraining for Stockholm’s ice, supportive winter footwear tweaks. The weight-bearing discomfort diminished steadily, then vanished. Ten months post-injury, she skied a gentle loop under the northern lights in Jämtland, Luna trotting beside her tracks, the crisp air filled with her joyful breath as she glided effortlessly over the frozen lake.
Today, Sofia crafts sustainable designs with steady focus, checks her personalized StrongBody AI dashboard each morning over fika, and embraces Sweden’s winters with open arms—discomfort replaced by enduring freedom.
“StrongBody AI didn’t just heal my ankle,” she shares with fellow skiers. “It linked me to a devoted partner who comprehends my Nordic rhythm. I’m no longer wary of bearing my weight—I’m reclaiming every trail with certainty.”
And as Stockholm’s endless summer light fades into another promising winter, Sofia’s journey of quiet strength is far from complete…
In the warm glow of the 2025 International Conference on Rehabilitation Sciences in Lisbon, a moving short film about individuals triumphing over chronic mobility challenges left the diverse audience in heartfelt silence, tears glistening under the auditorium lights.
One of those stories belonged to Liam Gallagher, a 38-year-old primary school teacher and dedicated hill runner from Edinburgh, Scotland. Liam had always drawn strength from the rugged trails of the Pentland Hills, pounding the paths at dawn before greeting his lively classroom of eight-year-olds with boundless energy. That vitality shattered one drizzly autumn morning in 2024.
He was navigating a muddy descent near Arthur’s Seat when his right foot slipped on wet rock. The ankle twisted viciously inward—a severe grade II sprain with partial tears to the lateral ligaments and deep peroneal tissue strain. Swelling ballooned immediately, but the enduring torment was a profound discomfort whenever he bore weight. Every transfer of pressure felt like a deep, grinding ache through the midfoot and heel, as if the joint rebelled against its own load. Teaching became a trial—standing at the whiteboard triggered throbbing exhaustion; playground duty left him limping; even short runs with his border terrier, Finn, ended in frustrated retreat.
Edinburgh specialists diagnosed persistent post-sprain instability and altered biomechanics causing chronic weight-bearing discomfort. “Gradual progression,” they urged. Yet progress stalled. Months in, standing for lessons sparked sharp flares; nights brought restless pulsing pain; the hills he cherished seemed forever out of reach.
Liam poured everything into recovery, driven to reclaim his body. He consulted private clinics in Edinburgh and Glasgow, invested thousands in custom insoles, ultrasound therapy, premium balance boards, aquatic rehab sessions, and high-end orthotic boots. He explored every online avenue—AI-powered physio apps, virtual gait analysis tools, chatbot consultants that processed symptom videos and photos. They dispensed standardised protocols: “Toe raises three times daily,” “Increase weight-bearing by 10% weekly,” without illuminating why discomfort intensified after routine teaching or why his foot faltered on the school’s uneven playground gravel.
Despair deepening, Liam joined a Scottish runners’ injury support group online. There, another member shared how StrongBody AI—a transformative platform connecting patients globally to elite specialists for real-time, personalised data-guided care—had finally resolved her own lingering sprain issues.
That night, foot propped on a tartan cushion with Finn at his side, Liam signed up. He uploaded detailed photos of the subtle swelling, synced his running watch data showing pain-linked heart-rate surges during brief stands, logged comprehensive diaries correlating discomfort with classroom hours, and described how it dimmed his teaching passion and trail dreams. The platform promptly matched him with Dr. Freya Hansen, a Danish sports physiotherapist and orthopaedic specialist based in Copenhagen with 18 years of experience. Dr. Hansen had rehabilitated professional handball players and pioneered research on wearable metrics to restore natural weight-bearing tolerance after complex ankle trauma.
Their first video consultation left Liam stunned. Dr. Hansen pored over his uploads with precision, inquiring about his trail shoe tread, classroom flooring, hydration in Scotland’s damp chill, stress from marking piles, even how childhood games on Edinburgh’s cobbled streets influenced his stride. She analysed the watch data meticulously, identifying compensatory shifts overloading the injured tissues.
“I’ve spent a fortune and feel trapped,” Liam admitted, voice thick. “I’m scared I’ll never run the hills freely again—or teach without this constant ache.”
Her warm assurance lingered: “We’ll decode your body’s precise feedback daily and rebuild your confidence step by measured step.”
Resistance emerged swiftly. His parents cautioned, “Son, go back to the local physio—they can feel the joint properly.” Colleagues at school whispered about “fancy app doctors.” His sister dismissed it as “another money pit.” Liam wavered, nearly suspending the plan.
But the consistent, insightful guidance anchored him. Dr. Hansen examined weekly updates and images, calibrating non-weight-bearing strength work first, then tailored partial loading for school corridors, incorporating anti-inflammatory Nordic diet tweaks, and tackling sleep interruptions from pain. She recalled every nuance without prompting, making him feel profoundly understood.
Then came the night that transformed everything.
Seven months into recovery, Liam awoke at 2 a.m. to searing discomfort. Rising for water ignited a torrent of grinding pain; his foot buckled under minimal weight, swelling surging anew. Panic gripped him—he feared lasting damage. Alone while his wife visited relatives in Glasgow, Finn barking worriedly, he fumbled for the StrongBody AI app.
The platform flagged the crisis instantly via his logged entry and tracker anomaly. In under a minute, Dr. Hansen connected via video, serene despite the Nordic midnight.
“Liam, remain seated—camera on the ankle, tell me precisely where the ache intensifies on plantar flexion.”
She directed expert offloading, subtle mobilisation to ease pressure, and vigilant remote oversight until the flare subsided. Comfort returned gradually.
Tears streamed then—not from suffering, but sheer relief at this immediate, expert bridge across the North Sea.
From that instant, scepticism melted into unwavering faith. Liam committed wholly: progressive loading on Pentland grass replicas, gait refinement for playground supervision, supportive footwear for Edinburgh’s slopes. The weight-bearing discomfort ebbed steadily, then disappeared. Nine months post-injury, he crested Salisbury Crags at sunrise, Finn racing ahead, the panoramic view of Edinburgh Castle bathed in golden light as he stood effortlessly on the rocky summit.
Today, Liam captivates his pupils with outdoor lessons, reviews his custom StrongBody AI progress each morning over coffee, and conquers the hills with renewed exhilaration—discomfort now a vanquished memory, resilience deeply forged.
“StrongBody AI didn’t merely mend my ankle,” he confides to fellow runners. “It paired me with a dedicated ally who grasps my every stride. I’m no longer dreading weight on my foot—I’m embracing the paths ahead.”
And as the Scottish mists part over the Pentlands, Liam’s tale of quiet triumph is only beginning…
In the elegant surroundings of the 2025 Royal Society of Medicine symposium in London, a quietly powerful film about patients reclaiming their stride after lingering ankle injuries left the audience profoundly moved—many reaching for tissues in the dimmed lights.
Among those stories was that of Olivia Thompson, a 36-year-old community nurse and keen weekend hill-walker from the Lake District, now living in Manchester. Olivia had always found renewal in the steep fells of Cumbria—striding out early on Saturdays, boots crunching on gravel, wind carrying away the week’s stresses from her busy ward rounds. That rhythm ended one icy February morning in 2025.
Rushing between home visits on slippery pavements near her Manchester flat, her left foot landed awkwardly on a raised curb. The ankle inverted sharply—a grade II sprain tearing the lateral ligaments and damaging deeper stabilising tissues. Swelling arrived instantly, but the lasting agony was a deep, persistent discomfort whenever she tried to bear full weight. Each step felt as though glass shards shifted inside the joint; prolonged standing on the ward triggered burning pain that radiated into her calf and left her trembling by the end of a shift.
Doctors at Manchester Royal Infirmary confirmed post-traumatic synovitis and proprioceptive deficit causing chronic weight-bearing intolerance. “Patience and graded loading,” they advised. Yet patience ran thin as months passed with little progress. Standing for more than twenty minutes brought throbbing exhaustion; night shifts became ordeals; even short walks with her spaniel, Bracken, ended in tears. The fells she loved felt impossibly distant.
Olivia fought hard to regain command of her body. She spent thousands on private physiotherapy in Manchester and Liverpool, bespoke orthotics, shockwave therapy, costly anti-gravity treadmill sessions, and imported compression technology. She tried every digital promise—AI rehabilitation apps, virtual physio coaches, chatbot symptom analysers that reviewed uploaded photos and videos. They offered identical generic progressions—“partial weight-bearing for two weeks, then advance”—without ever explaining why pain surged after ordinary nursing tasks or why her ankle buckled on uneven hospital floors.
Feeling more powerless than ever, Olivia joined a UK nurses’ health forum online. There, a colleague described how StrongBody AI—a sophisticated platform connecting patients worldwide to leading specialists for continuous, data-driven guidance—had finally resolved her own stubborn sprain symptoms.
That same evening, ankle elevated on the sofa with Bracken curled beside her, Olivia created an account. She uploaded clear images of the lingering swelling, synced her smartwatch data revealing heart-rate spikes during weight-bearing attempts, logged detailed pain diaries tied to shift patterns, and explained how the discomfort threatened both her career and her beloved walks. Within hours the platform matched her with Dr. Ingrid Larsen, a Norwegian sports orthopaedic specialist based in Oslo with 21 years of experience. Dr. Larsen had rehabilitated cross-country skiers and published widely on using real-time wearable data to restore weight-bearing confidence after complex ankle injuries.
Their first video consultation astonished Olivia. Dr. Larsen studied every upload meticulously, asking about her nursing footwear, shift lengths on hard hospital floors, hydration in heated wards, stress from patient loads, even how Lake District childhood walks shaped her gait expectations. She dissected the tracker data, spotting subtle overload patterns when Olivia unconsciously favoured the uninjured side.
“I’ve spent everything I have,” Olivia confessed, voice wavering. “I’m frightened I’ll never walk the fells again without pain.”
Dr. Larsen’s gentle reply stayed with her: “We’ll listen to your body’s exact signals every day and rebuild trust in your ankle together.”
Scepticism surfaced quickly. Her mum warned, “Love, stick with the NHS physio—they can actually examine you.” Colleagues at the hospital murmured about “paying for a doctor on a screen.” Her brother called it “another expensive fad.” Olivia nearly cancelled the subscription.
Yet the daily, thoughtful adjustments kept her engaged. Dr. Larsen reviewed new photos and logs each week, fine-tuning non-impact strengthening, introducing specific balance drills suited to hospital corridors, recommending micronutrients to reduce inflammation, and addressing sleep disruption from night-shift pain. She remembered every prior detail effortlessly, making Olivia feel genuinely known.
Then came the night everything hinged upon.
Five months into the programme, Olivia woke at 3 a.m. after a long shift to agonising discomfort. Attempting to stand for painkillers triggered a wave of burning instability; her ankle simply refused normal weight. Swelling flared; panic rose—she feared irreversible damage. Alone in her flat while her partner visited family in Keswick, Bracken whining anxiously, she opened the StrongBody AI app with trembling fingers.
The system immediately detected the emergency flag from her manual entry and the abrupt heart-rate elevation. Within forty-five seconds Dr. Larsen was on secure video, calm and fully present despite the hour.
“Olivia, stay off the foot—show me the ankle and describe exactly where the pain peaks when you dorsiflex.”
She guided precise offloading positions, gentle lymphatic drainage movements, and remote monitoring until inflammation eased. Relief arrived steadily over the next half hour.
Tears came then—not from pain, but from overwhelming gratitude for this swift, human lifeline across the North Sea.
From that moment, doubt dissolved into deep trust. Olivia embraced the evolving plan wholeheartedly: progressive loading on soft Lake District grass simulations, gait retraining for ward rounds, ergonomic footwear tweaks. The weight-bearing discomfort faded gradually, then vanished entirely. Eight months after the sprain, she summited Helvellyn at sunrise, Bracken bounding ahead, the vast expanse of Ullswater glittering below as she stood pain-free on the summit rocks.
Now, Olivia completes her ward rounds with steady stride, checks her personalised StrongBody AI insights each morning, and returns to the fells with quiet joy—discomfort transformed into durable strength.
“StrongBody AI didn’t simply heal my ankle,” she tells fellow nurses. “It gave me a true partner who understands my life completely. I’m no longer fearing the next step—I’m choosing it confidently.”
And as the Lake District mist lifts each dawn, Olivia’s journey of renewal continues to unfold…
How to Book a Discomfort When Bearing Weight Consultant via StrongBody AI
Step 1: Visit StrongBody AI and sign up with your email and user profile.
Step 2: Search for “Discomfort When Bearing Weight Consultant Service” or select by condition “Foot Sprain.”
Step 3: Review expert profiles, specializations, and consultation times.
Step 4: Select your preferred expert, book the appointment, and complete secure payment.
Step 5: Attend your video consultation and receive a care plan tailored to your foot condition.
If you're experiencing discomfort when bearing weight, it may be more than just a bruise—it could be a foot sprain. Early intervention is key to preventing long-term pain, weakness, or reinjury.
A discomfort when bearing weight consultant service on StrongBody AI connects you with global foot and joint experts who can help you get back on your feet—literally. Book your consultation now and take the first step toward full recovery.
Overview of StrongBody AI
StrongBody AI is a platform connecting services and products in the fields of health, proactive health care, and mental health, operating at the official and sole address: https://strongbody.ai. The platform connects real doctors, real pharmacists, and real proactive health care experts (sellers) with users (buyers) worldwide, allowing sellers to provide remote/on-site consultations, online training, sell related products, post blogs to build credibility, and proactively contact potential customers via Active Message. Buyers can send requests, place orders, receive offers, and build personal care teams. The platform automatically matches based on expertise, supports payments via Stripe/Paypal (over 200 countries). With tens of millions of users from the US, UK, EU, Canada, and others, the platform generates thousands of daily requests, helping sellers reach high-income customers and buyers easily find suitable real experts. StrongBody AI is where sellers receive requests from buyers, proactively send offers, conduct direct transactions via chat, offer acceptance, and payment. This pioneering feature provides initiative and maximum convenience for both sides, suitable for real-world health care transactions – something no other platform offers.
StrongBody AI is a human connection platform, enabling users to connect with real, verified healthcare professionals who hold valid qualifications and proven professional experience from countries around the world.
All consultations and information exchanges take place directly between users and real human experts, via B-Messenger chat or third-party communication tools such as Telegram, Zoom, or phone calls.
StrongBody AI only facilitates connections, payment processing, and comparison tools; it does not interfere in consultation content, professional judgment, medical decisions, or service delivery. All healthcare-related discussions and decisions are made exclusively between users and real licensed professionals.
StrongBody AI serves tens of millions of members from the US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia, Vietnam, Brazil, India, and many other countries (including extended networks such as Ghana and Kenya). Tens of thousands of new users register daily in buyer and seller roles, forming a global network of real service providers and real users.
The platform integrates Stripe and PayPal, supporting more than 50 currencies. StrongBody AI does not store card information; all payment data is securely handled by Stripe or PayPal with OTP verification. Sellers can withdraw funds (except currency conversion fees) within 30 minutes to their real bank accounts. Platform fees are 20% for sellers and 10% for buyers (clearly displayed in service pricing).
StrongBody AI acts solely as an intermediary connection platform and does not participate in or take responsibility for consultation content, service or product quality, medical decisions, or agreements made between buyers and sellers.
All consultations, guidance, and healthcare-related decisions are carried out exclusively between buyers and real human professionals. StrongBody AI is not a medical provider and does not guarantee treatment outcomes.
For sellers:
Access high-income global customers (US, EU, etc.), increase income without marketing or technical expertise, build a personal brand, monetize spare time, and contribute professional value to global community health as real experts serving real users.
For buyers:
Access a wide selection of reputable real professionals at reasonable costs, avoid long waiting times, easily find suitable experts, benefit from secure payments, and overcome language barriers.
The term “AI” in StrongBody AI refers to the use of artificial intelligence technologies for platform optimization purposes only, including user matching, service recommendations, content support, language translation, and workflow automation.
StrongBody AI does not use artificial intelligence to provide medical diagnosis, medical advice, treatment decisions, or clinical judgment.
Artificial intelligence on the platform does not replace licensed healthcare professionals and does not participate in medical decision-making.
All healthcare-related consultations and decisions are made solely by real human professionals and users.
