Happy Thanksgiving from Z-CoiL Footwear!

Thanksgiving is a time of great joy, warm thoughts and sincere gratitude.

All of us here at the Z-CoiL Corporate office would like to wish you a happy Thanksgiving, and may all the days ahead be filled with happiness, peace, and prosperity.

Z-CoiL® Founder, Al Gallegos, Interviews with Dr. Bob Martin

While attending a Grand Opening Celebration for a Z-CoiL store in Gilbert, Arizona, Al Gallegos had a chance to share his unique pain relief solution with radio host Dr. Bob Martin and all of his listeners.

"The Dr. Bob Martin Show" is the largest syndicated alternative health show in the U.S., with listeners tuning from over 100 cities across the country, in Canada, and around the world via the Internet. His interactive call-in programs focus on giving listeners health information that encourage the motivation, confidence and conviction they need to heal themselves - a perfect match for Z-CoiL® Pain Relief Footwear®!

Their lively discussion prompted dozens of listeners in the Phoenix area to stop by the Z-CoiL store and Meet the Inventor of Z-CoiL in person. Al was so busy, he says, he didn't even get a chance to sample the delicious buffet that store owners Ken and D.A. Carter had generously provided for the event.

Foot Pain by the Numbers

43
Millions of American adults, or one in six, who have foot problems; the ratio increases to one in three over age 65.

1,000
The average number of miles an American walks each year; two to three times total body weight is placed on the big toe during the push-off phase of walking.

1
Million pounds of pressure the feet absorb during an hour of strenuous exercise.

11
Millions of Americans who visit doctors’ offices for foot and ankle problems each year.

25
Percentage of Americans with flat feet, a condition in which the foot does not have a normal arch.

1,000
Number of Americans per year who undergo ankle replacement surgery.

76
Percentage increase in the amount of body-weight pressure on the forefoot when wearing three-inch high heels; this drops to 22 percent for one-inch heels.

.5
The amount of inches between the end of a properly fitted shoe and the longest toe.

10
Percentage of Americans who will be affected by plantar fasciitis at some point in their lifetime.

5,280
Number of feet in a mile.

2,000
Average number of steps in a mile.

Preventative Care for Common Foot Problems

In a recent survey for the American Podiatric Medical Association, 53 percent of respondents reported foot pain so severe that it hampered their daily function. On average, people develop pain in their 60s, but it can start as early as the 20s and 30s.

Yet, even armed with this knowledge, most people do not take preventative measures to care for their feet.

I was recently reading a very informative article by L. Tarkan from The New York Times. In it she discusses the most common foot problems that are associated with aging and whether you should take actions now to prevent them. Here are just a few:

Are you overweight?
The force on your feet is about 120% of your weight. “Obesity puts a great amount of stress on all the supporting structures of the foot,” said Dr. Bart Gastwirth, a podiatrist at the University of Chicago. It can lead to plantar fasciitis and heel pain and can worsen hammertoes and bunions. It’s also a risk factor for diabetes, leading to the next question.

Are you diabetic?
Being farthest from the heart, the feet can be the first part of the body to manifest complications like poor circulation and loss of feeling, both of which can lead to poor wound healing and amputation. Diabetics should have their feet examined annually by a doctor and avoid shoes that cause abrasions and pressure.

Do you have flat feet or high arches?
Either puts feet at risk. A flat foot is squishy, causing muscles and tendons to stretch and weaken, leading to tendonitis and arthritis. A high arch is rigid and has little shock absorption, putting more pressure on the ball and heel of the foot, as well as on the knees, hips and back. Shoes or orthotics that support the arch and heel can help flat feet. People with high arches should look for roomy shoes and softer padding to absorb the shock. Isometric exercises also strengthen muscles supporting the foot.

Do your shoes fit?
In the podiatric association’s survey, more than 34 percent of men said they could not remember the last time their feet were measured. Twenty percent of women said that once a week they wore shoes that hurt, and 8 percent wore painful shoes daily. Feet flatten and lengthen with age, so if you are clinging to the shoe size you wore at age 21, get your feet measured (especially mothers — pregnancy expands feet).

Do you wear high heels?
“The high heel concentrates the force on the heel and the forefoot,” Dr. Gastwirth said. Heels contribute to hammertoes, neuromas (pinched nerves near the ball of the foot), bunions and “pump bump” (a painful bump on the back of the heel), as well as toenail problems. Most of the time, wear heels that are less than two and a half inches high.

When reading the article, I noticed that all five of these questions focused on wearing better shoes to prevent future foot pain and ailments, which of course, is right in-line with Z-CoiL® footwear. In fact, our shoes are specifically engineered for foot, leg and back pain relief and can be adjusted in many ways by a trained, authorized Z-CoiL® Distributor to accommodate your individual needs. Z-CoiL wearers have reported relief from the pain of many medically-diagnosed conditions, including:

• Arthritis and other common joint pains
• Lower back pain and sciatica
• Heel spurs, plantar fasciitis, and metatarsal pain

You can check out many of their testimonials here: http://www.zcoil.com/testimonials

Z-CoiL® Founder, Al Gallegos, Lifts Spirits at the International Balloon Fiesta!

Despite some stormy weather and a gloomy forecast for the economy, the Z-CoiL® Footwear booth was jumping at the Albuquerque’s International Balloon Fiesta,
October 4-12, 2008.

Al Gallegos made several personal appearances and helped dozens of visitors experience the amazing pain relief possible with his innovative footwear. In fact, this year’s Balloon Fiesta sales were up significantly over last year’s - perhaps because shoes that relieve pain are not a luxury item for many people, but a real necessity!

Did You Know . . .

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is the largest balloon convention in the world. It got its start in 1972 with 19 hot air balloons and has grown to feature 750 balloons (the number was limited in 2001 for safety reasons). Up to 100,000 visitors from around the world come to Albuquerque, New Mexico each year to enjoy the spectacle.

November Testimonial of the Month

One of the most rewarding aspects of my position here at Z-CoiL is maintaining our customer testimonial database. It is just so touching to hear how our footwear really changes people's lives for the better. Every month we select a customer's inspirational story to be featured as the Testimonial of the Month. I would like to share those with you each month, and please feel free to add your story to the blog.

Over five years ago, I was anticipating having to use wheelchair because of my Plantar Fasciitis, flat feet, super flexible ankles, and massive pain in both my feet and back. I could only be on my feet for an hour before pain forced me to sit. I had begun to hunch over just to compensate for the pain. I had tried many shoe inserts but with very little relief. I was working full time on cement floors teaching music. On Wednesday, before Thanksgiving, I got my first pair of Z-Coil shoes. On that Friday I went shopping with my daughter for 10 hours with very little pain by the end of the day! I never went back to any other shoes for over four years. I now own six pair of Z-CoiL shoes and they are all I wear. My favorite style is the hiking boot. They give my ankles the best support for those uneven surfaces. Now, I can even wear other shoes for several hours but I always go back to my Z-CoiL shoes. I have traveled to many areas of the world including
the Mediterranean and The Panama Canal. Everywhere I go people ask about my Z-CoiL shoes. Once every two years I return to my foot doctor to get my inserts rebuilt but I still have my first pair of Z-CoiL Shoes and still love them. Because of the quality construction, they are holding up very well. In Rome I even crossed through two feet of rushing water and soaked my boots. They dried out overnight and are just fine. I have saved a lot of money on Doctor bills and avoided surgeries on my feet thanks to Z-CoiL. The best thing of all is NO MORE PAIN!

Thank you so very much.

Sharon

Bellevue, NE

For even more heart-felt testimonials please visit our website.

Z-CoiL® Pain Relief Footwear® featured on Good Morning America!

It was very exciting to see the anchors of Good Morning America wearing Z-CoiL footwear this morning! That’s right—Diane Sawyer (who was wearing one of my personal favorites, the Mary Jane-style Taos Strap), Chris Cuomo, Robin Roberts, and Sam Champion all gathered Around the Water Cooler with features correspondent Taryn Winter Brill to discuss the “uniqueness” of Z-CoiL footwear.

First Diane Sawyer posed the central Z-CoiL question, “Can they save lives, knees, hips, and even your joints?” Taryn then declared that she was calling this segment “The Water Coiler” and segued into a discussion of shoes that deliver health benefits to your body.
The segment, in my opinion, focused too much on the shoe’s unusual design rather than revealing the health benefits associated with Z-CoiL. I think it would have been far more powerful if Taryn had interviewed an actual Z-CoiL customer whose life has been changed by a pair of shoes.

Still, we’re all very excited to have been featured on Good Morning America! The buzz is already growing and circulating all over the country, according to many of our distributors.

Check out the GMA segment below and let us know your thoughts on this morning’s “Around the Water Coiler!”

Relief is on the way! Z-CoiL® is visiting Santa Fe, NM!

November 20-21, 2008
10:00AM - 6:00PM

Z-CoiL® Pain Relief Footwear® is making a special appearance in your area. Don’t miss this opportunity to:

• Check out our latest Styles


• Receive a FREE footwear adjustment


• Make your old Z-CoiL® shoes look and feel like new again!
  

Bring a family member or friend with you and receive a SPECIAL GIFT!

Courtyard by Marriott
3347 Cerrillos Rd
Santa Fe, NM

A new voice in a mature industry

Although Z-CoiL has been in business for over 10 years, we felt it was time to breathe some new life, and new outlets of communication, into the footwear industry. So, we have started a blog!

The Z-CoiL blog is your source for our latest, greatest musings regarding topics relevant to the company, the industry and to you, our customers.

I see this blog as a community hub regarding all things Z-CoiL.

A place where you can learn about the Z-CoiL® Brand, get a sneak peak at new products, meet our distributors from all over the country, chat with other Z-CoiL wearers, participate in exclusive contests and events, keep abreast of the latest health news, and browse our testimonial and photo galleries. There will be even more exciting interactive content so check back often! We look forward to receiving your feedback and engaging in an open exchange of information with all of you all over the world!