Inventor, Al Gallegos, on the Dr. Pat Radio Show!

Dr. Pat Baccili discusses the life-enhancing benefits of Z-CoiL Pain Relief Footwear with inventor Al Gallegos on her radio program, "The Doctor Pat Show."

Like the coils in the heels of his own springy shoes, 78-year-old Alvaro Z. Gallegos has experienced plenty of ups and downs in his life, but he keeps on bouncing back.It’s taken 20 years, but Al’s unusual creation, Z-CoiL® Pain Relief Footwear®, is at last beginning to receive national attention. In spite of many obstacles and a series of personal tragedies, Al has persevered in pursuit of his crazy dream. And now his odd-looking footwear, engineered to deliver relief from foot, leg, and back pain, is restoring active lives to thousands of suffering people across the country.

Click here to read the full story and listen to the radio interview with Al!

Tips for Preventing Foot Pain

The American Podiatric Medical Association offers the following tips for preventing foot pain:
• Don’t ignore foot pain — it’s not normal. If the pain persists, see a doctor who specializes in podiatry.
• Inspect feet regularly. Pay attention to changes in color and temperature. Look for thick or discolored nails (a sign of developing fungus), and check for cracks or cuts in the skin. Peeling or scaling on the soles of feet could indicate athlete’s foot. Any growth on the foot is not considered normal.
• Wash feet regularly, especially between the toes, and dry them completely.
• Trim toenails straight across, but not too short. (Cutting nails in corners or on the sides increases the risk for ingrown toenails.)
• Make sure shoes fit properly. Purchase new shoes later in the day when feet tend to be at their largest, and replace worn out shoes as soon as possible.
• Select and wear the right shoe for specific activities (such as running shoes for running).
• Alternate shoes. Don’t wear the same pair of shoes every day.
• Avoid walking barefoot, which increases the risk for injury and infection. At the beach or when wearing sandals, always use sunblock on your feet, as you would on the rest of your body.
• Be cautious when using home remedies for foot ailments. Self-treatment can often turn a minor problem into a major one.
• It is critical that people with diabetes see a podiatric physician at least once a year for a checkup. People with diabetes, poor circulation, or heart problems should not treat their own feet, including toenails, because they are more prone to infection.

Preventing Foot Problems in Childhood
• Early Development. The first year of life is important for foot development. Parents should cover their babies’ feet loosely, allowing plenty of opportunity for kicking and exercise. Change the child’s position frequently. Children generally start to walk at 10 – 18 months. They should not be forced to start walking early. Wearing just socks or going barefoot indoors helps the foot develop normally and strongly and allows the toes to grasp. Going barefoot outside, however, increases the risk for injury and other conditions, such as plantar warts.
• Shoes. Children should wear shoes that are light and flexible, and since their feet tend to perspire, their shoes should be made of materials that breathe. Replace footwear every few months as the child’s feet grow. Footwear should never be handed down. Protect children’s feet if they participate in high-impact sports.

The Mommy Brain Reports (and one of Walmart's 11 Moms) reviews Z-CoiL Shoes

Monica Brady from the Mommy Brain Reports has written a great reivew for our footwear.


Check out the complete article and her other great posts on her blog: http://www.mommybrainreports.com/1579/review-z-coil-shoes/

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I’m always on the lookout for the coolest things around, and this review is no exception!I was watching The Doctors one day, and they had on a pair of interesting looking shoes, that they claimed made them stand a little taller, and helped their posture. They also explained how these shoes acted like shock absorbers for their bodies. I thought that had to be a gimmick, but I was willing to try them, so I contacted Z-coil and explained how my back, knees, and hips have hurt since carrying my twins, and my husband’s back and knees have hurt him from all of the running he did while in the Marine Corps. They actually agreed to give us each a pair of shoes… But it wasn’t something they could just send us. We had to go to a local authorized dealer to get custom fitted for our Z-coil shoes.

We soon learned why we have to be custom fitted for these shoes. There are so many things that could be adjusted. The coil in the heel can be softer or stronger, or even turned to help with pronation. He had a computer there that he had us stand on to measure where we put pressure on our feet. We then walked across it to see how our feet hit the ground. I got to see how I put a lot of pressure on my big toe when I stood, and hit the ground hard with my heel when I walked. This totally explained why I had so much trouble when I tried to run. My knees, ankles, hips and lower back were always hurting after I tried to jog for even a couple of minutes on the treadmill. Gordon was able to look at these charts and use the data to truly customize our shoes for us. As far as my shoes go, he did turn one of the coils to help me stabilize one of my ankles, and he added some extra pads at my heel and the ball of my foot to reduce some of the impact when I walk.

It’s now been 2 months since I’ve had these shoes, and I have to say that they have helped me out a lot. I’ve been able to jog a little. I’ve noticed a majority of my lower joint pain has lessened and even some of it has gone away. My hubby has also liked wearing his shoes when we go out for the weekends and are doing a lot of walking around.

Please click here for the complete article.

Spring in Our Step Article from VitalJuice.com

April 29, 2009
These shoes make us think of Flubber, but they've got us walking on sunshine.

When we saw these on Helena Bonham Carter, we thought: something from her latest Gothy kids' flick? But it turns out Z-CoiLs, shoes with shock-absorbing metal springs for heels, are a hit all over Hollywood, spotted on Dustin Hoffman, Lenny Kravitz, Margaret Cho and Robert DeNiro. We desperately seek comfy shoes. Still, could we pull off the Z-CoiL?

Nancy and Ed from the Torrance store set us up:

• We got star treatment. Everyone who buys Z-CoiLs gets a custom fitting. Nancy felt our foot bones and studied how we stand and walk.


• Our shoes were tricked out. Nancy and Ed worked for 45 minutes, cutting and placing insteps, heel grips and arches until the shoes were a perfect fit. The shoes come with free "tune-ups" for life.


• We got surprise exercise. Turns out learning to walk on Z-CoiLs works the core.

The verdict: They have the ugly charm of a Cabbage Patch Kid. But Z-CoiLs are outrageously fun to wear, every bit as springy as we'd expected and then some. We wanted to bounce around all day, and they're said to be comfortable enough to wear for miles without getting sore or tired.

And they kinda made us feel like celebrities.

Such as The Easter Bunny.

http://www.vitaljuice.com/entry_detail/la/9837/These_shoes_make_us_think_of_Flubber_but_theyve_got_us_walking_on_%0D%0Asunshine_.htm

Z-CoiL Footwear Launches New Website Design

Z-CoiL Footwear has upgraded its Website at www.zcoil.com.

The new site offers a revamped design, streamlined navigation, and reorganized content. The home page is organized to send visitors to Z-CoiL’s most requested information including product styles, testimonials, and the Founder Spotlight.

The site also features new or enhanced interactive tools, including a clickable map of Z-CoiL retail locations worldwide and a "News and Events" feature, which provides article downloads from media outlets around the country, press releases from Z-CoiL Footwear, an events calendar, and an archive of our online customer newsletters.

Let us know what you think!

www.zcoil.com

Unveiling the New Shades of Spring

Spring Into Spring with Fresh, New Colors from Z-CoiL®


The Z-CoiL® Freedom, the best-selling style of our unique line of Pain Relief Footwear® products, ushers in spring with two appealing new colors: Navy/White for Men and Sky Blue/White for Women.

There is currently only a limited supply of these new athletic shoes, so interested customers are urged to hurry to their local Z-CoiL® store right away for a custom fitting.

The new blue Freedoms are engineered with the same innovative, shock-absorbing and pain-relieving technology as other Z-CoiL® Pain Relief Footwear®. Both feature a patented, conical steel coil in the heel, which is designed to absorb up to 50% of the impact from walking or running, while delivering a 40 to 50% energy return.

The Z-CoiL® spring-suspension system works in concert with a built-in orthotic support that distributes pressure evenly across the bottom of the foot, eliminating sore spots and relieving the pain typically caused by heel spurs or plantar fasciitis. Z-CoiL shoes also feature thick, resilient cushioning under the forefoot, plus a rocker-bottom sole that gently assists each step. Such total foot support and cushioning work together to reduce the shock of impact to the body. And less impact means less pain.

New Blue Freedom Features:

Excellent durability and breathability

Full-grain leather upper with nylon mesh

Breathable spandex lining

Padded tongue and extra-soft, felt-lined insole

Reflector accents for nighttime safety

Available in Women's sizes 6-9 and Men's sizes 9-12
The Z-CoiL® Freedom also comes in a wider range of sizes in Royal Blue/White; All White; All Black; and All Gray.

Thousands of Z-CoiL® customers have reported a significant reduction in foot, knee, leg, hip, and back pain, thanks to their unusual footwear. Jani K. from Santee, CA, writes, “I feel like I have my life back again! Z-CoiLs have not changed my three bad discs and fractured neck, but I can live with it now, whereas before I hated getting out of bed, knowing the pain would hit. Now I can walk in Disneyland with my grandkids."

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