Z-CoiL® Pain Relief Footwear®: The Ergonomic and Economic Cushion in Hard Times

Wall Street Journal reports rise in number of pain patients due to stress as economic crisis worsens. The Journal of the American Medical Association reports most at-work pain sufferers cited back pain, arthritis pain, and other musculoskeletal pain. The Ergonomic Z-CoiL® Pain Relief Footwear® helps reduce muscular stress and musculoskeletal pain.

Santa Fe, NM (Vocus/PRWEB ) April 14, 2009 -- In hard economic times, stress levels go up, muscles tighten and vulnerable people start feeling pain. One way to cushion the beating that bodies (and wallets) take when times are tough is to simply to wear the right shoes. Many people are working longer hours or taking on extra jobs to make ends meet, and when people spend that time on their feet, standing or walking on hard, unforgiving floors, the result can be devastating to health.

According to a recent interview in the Wall Street Journal* with Dr. Christopher L. Edwards, director of the Behavioral Chronic Pain Management program at Duke University Medical Center, they are seeing a rise in patients amid the current economic crisis. "There's a very strong relationship between the economy and the number of out-of-control stress cases we see." Muscular tension is the typical bodily reaction we see when someone is stressed. So if we walk around without coping with it, it takes a toll on our muscles. Over time this can lead to the chronic aches and pains associated with stress.

For people struggling with chronic pain due to heel spurs, plantar fasciitis, arthritis in knees and hips, or lower back pain, wearing Z-CoiL Pain Relief Footwear can help them to stay active and productive, for far less than the cost of doctor visits, pain medication, custom orthotics, or even surgery.

For only about $200 a pair, these shock absorbers for the body not only cushion the foot's impact with the ground by 50%, but also reduce fatigue by returning 40% of the energy! The durable construction of Z-CoiL shoes makes them last for years, and the heel coil assembly is designed to be replaced at a minimal cost, further extending the life of the shoe.

According to Charlene Chavez, a Registered Pharmacist in Gallup, NM, "Standing all day long had taken its toll on my feet and back. I was constantly in pain and I didn't know how much longer I would be able to work. Finally, I tried Z-CoiL shoes and have never been happier or more pain-free."

Pain experienced at work hurts productivity, to the tune of $61.2 billion per year, according to a study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association**. The majority of at-work pain sufferers cited back pain, arthritis pain, and other musculoskeletal pain as the principal causes of their lack of productivity.

Z-CoiL Pain Relief Footwear can be an excellent cushion in hard times, providing affordable health benefits that keep active people going strong.

*WSJ.com – Health Journal, March 17, 2009 -
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123724722718848829.html**JAMA, November 12, 2003—Vol 290, No. 18.

http://www.prweb.com/releases/Z-CoiL/pain_relief_shoes/prweb2320924.htm

Trendy Z-CoiL Shoes Put Spring in Celebrities' Step

Los Angeles, CA (CNS) - You now have reason to toss your towering heels and painful pumps away in the name of fashion. The pain-relieving footwear line Z-CoiL promises to be the savior of your tender, aching soles.

Once just an orthotic health trend, the shoes have now found a niche in the fashion world. A slew of celebrities and public figures, from Helena Bonham Carter and Robert DeNiro to Bill Clinton and the founders of Google, have been shod in the springy space-age footwear. The nationwide demand is now being met by shoe retailers who are stocking their shelves with the revolutionary pain-relieving line.

Z-CoiL's awkwardly-shaped trendsetting design guarantees to lessen the severity of back pain while combating common podiatric ailments. Armed with a cushioned sole and a patented shock-absorbing heel coil, Z-CoiL shoes are engineered to distribute weight more evenly and reduce painful impact.

Statistics report that over two-thirds of Americans will sustain some foot problem in their lifetime. With that date in mind, the inventors of the Z-CoiL technology knew a product with promise to mitigate foot, leg and back pain will surely find demand.

This testimonial from Helena Bonham Carter appears on the company's website: "It's like walking on grass, barefoot, and I feel I have much more stamina. They cushion you from the exhaustion of everyday life."

Chelsea Milko - Celebrity News Service CNS Reporter

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7014669868

Testimonial of the Month - April 2009

I was in your store on Sunday and bought a pair of Z-CoiL shoes with what I will admit was skepticism for fear of another snake oil remedy to help with my foot pain.

What I want to tell you is OH MY GOD!!! After only two days of wearing Z-CoiL shoes, my pain is almost 100% gone. All that is left is what I can only describe as a very slight, almost phantom discomfort I believe will disappear after my feet are given a chance to completely heal over the course of some time.

I am jokingly referring to this purchase as my ”miracle shoes.” They may look a little funny but it is worth it and anyone that wants to tease can stick it in their ear! I have been walking around in mild to severe discomfort for a couple of years.

Last year I went to a podiatrist who prescribed custom orthotics. He told me that if those did not work I was most likely looking at surgery (that may or may not work) to relieve my discomfort. For some reason “foot surgery” scared the hell out of me so I have been putting it off and living with the pain.

Then, last week I was listening to the Dr. Bob Martin radio show on KFYI and he gave your store and the product an unsolicited plug while discussing a foot problem with a caller. I thought to myself, “What do I have to lose? If they don’t work there is always the surgery option.” In closing, thank you, thank you, thank you! I have not been pain-free in a very long time.

Aside from the shoes, the owners at the Scottsdale store were also very friendly and quite helpful. Even though they have probably done this a thousand times or more they patiently explained the product without appearing disinterested and went the extra mile to make sure my difficult-to-fit feet were fitted properly.

Pleasantly surprised and eternally grateful,

Steve F.
Scottsdale, AZ

Lacing Techniques for a Proper Fit

Although the width, length, and size of your shoes are important, many people forget that lacing techniques are equally of value to ensure a proper fit. Many lacing techniques can be used to prevent injuries and to relieve foot problems and pain. Individuals with specific foot issues should follow lacing techniques specific to their foot characteristics to get a good shoe fit.

General Lacing Techniques:
Follow these general techniques from The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society:

• Loosen the laces as you slip into your shoes because this prevents unnecessary stress on the eyelets and the back of your shoes.


• Begin lacing your shoes closest to your toes, and pull the sets of eyelets, one at a time to adjust laces for a perfect fit.


• Shoes with a large number of eyelets make it easier to adjust laces for a custom fit.
  

Specific Tips for Shoe Types:

• Narrow feet: Start with the eyelets farthest from the tongue of the shoes and bring it up the side of the shoe.


• Wide feet: Use the eyelets closest to the tongue of the shoe because this provides for more space.


• Heel problems: By using every eyelet, make sure that the area closest to the heel is tied very tightly, while less tension is held near the toes. When you have reached the second to last eyelet on each side, start threading the lace through the top eyelet, making a small loop. Then, thread the opposite lace through each loop before tying it.


• Narrow heel and wide forefoot: Use two laces and thread through the top half of the eyelets and the other lace through the bottom half. The laces closest to the heel should be secured more tightly than the lace closest to the toes.

The High Price of High Heels

The idea that high heels can be hazardous to your health isn't new—orthopedists have warned women for years that high heels can contribute to the development of a variety of conditions from corns and calluses to hammertoes, arthritis, chronic knee pain, sprained ankles and back problems.

In 1998, a team of Harvard researchers linked high heels and knee osteoarthritis, a painful, degenerative joint disease characterized by the breakdown of the cartilage surrounding the knee. In that study, D. Casey Kerrigan, MD, associate professor of physical medicine at Harvard Medical School, and her team looked at very narrow, stiletto heels.

Later, researchers decided to look at the chunkier heels now in fashion to determine if they too are harmful to women's knees. The study demonstrates that wide heels increase the risk of developing osteoarthritis in the knee as much as, or more than, thin-heeled stilettos.

"Wide-heeled shoes give you the perception of more stability when you're standing, and they feel comfortable, so women wear them all day long," Kerrigan said. "They are better for your feet than stiletto heels, but just as bad for your knees."

"It takes a long time to feel the effects of knee osteoarthritis, and once you do, it's too late," said Dr. Kerrigan.

Eighty percent of the 42 million Americans suffering from arthritis have osteoarthritis, in which joint cartilage and surrounding bone progressively degrade from wear and tear. Surgeons perform over 300,000 artificial knee replacements in this country every year due to this condition.


High heels can also result in a variety of other foot problems, including metatarsalgia, which is pain in the ball of the foot. Another condition, called Morton's neuroma, which is 10 times more common in women than men, is caused by a thickening of tissue around a nerve between the third and fourth toes. It usually develops in response to irritation and excessive pressure such as the weight burden high heels place on the ball of the foot. Pointed toe shoes and shoes that pinch lead to other foot problems such as bunions, calluses and hammertoe.

Information from the Health Library at the Yale-New Haven Hospital

Spring Into New Adventures with the Z-Trek from Z-CoiL

Introducing our newest limited-edition footwear! The Z-Trek is engineered with the same innovative, shock-absorbing and pain-relieving technology as other Z-CoiL footwear, but with a fun and sporty new look. You'll be ready for anything in this low-profile, breathable hiking shoe. But you'll have to act fast -- these limited-edition shoes won't be around for long!

• Nubuck leather upper with breathable nylon mesh
• Rugged toe and heel guards
• Breathable spandex lining
• Padded tongue and extra-soft, felt-lined insole
• Natural earth tones with aged brass accents
• Available in Women's sizes 6-10 and Men's sizes 8-13

LIMITED EDITION - Check with your local Z-CoiL store for availability!

Testimonial of the Month - March 2009

I am indeed a fan and an evangelist of Z-CoiL shoes! I have barely taken them off since buying them in July. They are so comfortable! It's like walking on grass, barefoot, and I feel I have much more stamina. They cushion you from the exhaustion of everyday life. Everywhere I go I get asked about them and complimented about their look. Some find them a source of mirth, but I'm the last one laughing 'cos they don't know how blissfully comfortable they are. I am a true Z-CoiL die hard.

Helena Bonham Carter