Winners of the Z-CoiL Best Idea on TWO Feet Video Contest!

Congratulations to our winners of the Z-CoiL “Best Idea on TWO Feet” Video Contest! All three videos will be made into commercials which may be aired across the country.

• Grand Prize Winner: Put a Spring in Your Step by Heidi Tungseth in MN.
• 2nd Place Winner: Z-CoiL’s? Yes, Please! by Stephen Boyd in Muncie, IN.
• 3rd Place Winner: Cool Shoes, Man! by Matt Pierce in Marina, CA.

See all of the videos here: http://www.youtube.com/ZCOILcontest

Stop Back Pain With These Top Tips

How to Ease Your Backache
Roughly 8 out of 10 people suffer from back pain at some point during their lives. Women, in particular, are prone to posture and back problems—thanks to toting around outrageously heavy purses, going through pregnancy, or giving one-hip rides to kids. Whether you’re in the midst of fighting the ache or just want to prevent it, here are some expert-endorsed quick-and-easy ways to wage your war.

Pass the broccoli, please
You know that calcium is key for strong bones, but Japanese researchers have identified something else you need: vitamin K. It’s believed that the vitamin, found in broccoli, spinach, and other dark leafy greens, helps calcium deposit in the bones, making them denser. The stronger your bones, the stronger your whole body—and the lower your chances of an injury that could cause back pain.

Lighten your load
If your purse or briefcase tips the scales at more than 10 percent of your weight, it’s too heavy. And you need to carry it right. Your best bet is a model with a long strap that lets you position it across your chest like a messenger bag. Can’t part with your shorter-strapped number? Switch shoulders every 20 minutes.

Sleep right
A harder bed may not be better for your back. A recent study in Spine found that people who slept on softer beds reported less lower-back pain than those who snoozed on harder ones. Pillows? Yours shouldn’t raise your head out of alignment with your spine. How to tell: If you’re a back sleeper, your chin shouldn’t press into your chest. If you’re a side sleeper, it shouldn’t curve up toward your shoulder.

Tighten those abs
Having strong core muscles (we’re talking abs here) can help protect your back from injury. Do this core-strengthening pelvic tilt 2 to 3 times per week: Lie on your back with knees bent, feet flat on the floor, and lower back flattened. Pull in your belly button toward your spine, contracting your abs; your pelvis should lift slightly off the floor.

Aim for good posture
Sitting at a desk for eight (or more) hours a day can really do a number on your back. Make sure to sit with your back against your chair (get a lumbar pillow if you chair doesn’t allow this) and both feet flat on the floor.

How Z-CoiL® footwear can help
The shock-absorbing heel in Z-CoiL footwear, in conjunction with thick forefoot cushioning, reduces impact to the body by up to 50% compared to conventional shoes. The built-in Z-Orthotic also promotes good posture, which relieves further stress on your back, while rocker-bottom soles in the shoes help you maintain a smooth gait as you walk. Check out our full line of Z-CoiL Footwear: www.zcoil.com

Enjoy Z-CoiL's Picks of the Season at a Special Price!

No matter what, we have a shoe to match your style!

And for a limited time, you can get our Picks of the Season at a special price!

Click here for the printable certificate.

To find a Z-CoiL store in your area, visit our Store Locator.

Shin Splints? 10 Tips for Staying Pain-Free

I ran across a great article on active.com by Marlene Cimons and had to share some of the great tips with you. Click here to read the full article.

Shin splints is a general term used to refer to a painful condition in the shins. It is often caused by running or jumping or sprinting, and may be very slow to heal.

Experts agree that when shin splints strike, you should stop running completely or decrease your training. Then ice your shin to reduce inflammation. Here’s a sampling of the tips Marlene suggests:

• Gently stretch your Achilles if you have medial shin splints, and your calves if you have anterior shin splints. Also, try this stretch for your shins: Kneel on a carpeted floor, legs and feet together and toes pointed directly back. Then slowly sit back onto your calves and heels, pushing your ankles into the floor until you feel tension in the muscles of your shin. Hold for 10 to 12 seconds, relax and repeat.


• In a sitting position, trace the alphabet on the floor with your toes. Do this with each leg. Or alternate walking on your heels for 30 seconds with 30 seconds of regular walking. Repeat four times. These exercises are good for both recovery and prevention. Try to do them three times a day.


• If you continue running, wrap your leg before you go out. Use either tape or an Ace bandage, starting just above the ankle and continuing to just below the knee. Keep wrapping your leg until the pain goes away, which usually takes three to six weeks.

Check out the Z-CoiL Freedom athletic shoe, which may prevent pain in your shins when running. Because the conical coil acts as a shock-absorber, you will be placing less pressure on your joints with each stride.

Click here to read the full article.

Z-CoiL's "Best Idea On TWO Feet" Video Contest

The "Best Idea on Two Feet"

Z-CoiL footwear commercial contest

3 Winners, over $5,500 in cash & prizes AND the ability to have your commercial aired across the country!

Create a unique and original commercial for Z-CoiL Footwear and you could WIN BIG!

Make us laugh. Make us cry. Make us stand up and cheer! Make it something you’d want to see on TV.

Maybe it’s about your pain management, or how you can walk again because of Z-CoiL shoes; maybe it’s about your individuality, or a way to stand out; maybe it’s your way of staying on your feet longer and working harder than your co-workers; or maybe it’s your zany obsession with all things coiled.

Whatever it is; you write it. You cast it. You direct and shoot it. You have total creative control!

For official rules and to learn more visit the contest website at http://www.ztvcontest.com.

My feet frequenly swell. Why and how do I minimize it?

Question: My feet frequenly swell. Why does this happen and how can I minimize it?

Answer: Your feet and ankles swell when fluid in the blood escapes from capillaries and accumulates in tissues, a condition known as peripheral edema. Causes range from benign to serious and include being overweight, long periods of standing, lengthy car or airplane rides, warm weather, and menstrual periods.

Most remedies work by improving circulation and returning fluid to blood vessels. Get regular exercise (contracting leg muscles helps the veins pump blood back to the heart), and lose weight if you need to. When sitting or standing in one position for a long time, stretch your legs and move around every couple of hours. Support hose, which you can buy at drugstores, also promote good circulation, and consider cutting your salt intake to a teaspoon or less daily, which helps reduce water retention.

In none of these remedies seems to help, a medical issue such as heart failure, kidney failure or side effects of prescription medications may be to blame. Work with your doctor to rule out these more serious causes.

For more information on swollen feet, click here.

Pop Quiz: Which Food Boosts Your Bones?

Question: Which food boosts your bones?

A) Nuts
B) Milk
C) Onions
D)Whole Wheat Bread

Answer: ALL OF THEM!

Foods such as milk that contain calcium and vitamin D aren’t the only ones that strengthen your skeleton. New research shows that two other compounds, inulin (found in onions and wheat, as well as in asparagus, artichokes, and bananas) and phytate (in nuts and whole grains), are also key. Inulin boosts calcium absorption, and phytate prevents bone mineral destruction. Spanish researchers found that people who ate phytate less than 3 times a week had the lowest bone mineral densities, a risk factor for osteoporosis.

Bottom line: A diverse diet with lots of veggies and whole grains is crucial for healthy bones too.

Prevention.com