New Footwear Product Providing Pain Relief for a Myriad of Conditions

Podiatry MGT


Z-CoiL® Pain-Relief Footwear™, based in Albuquerque, is a growing line of footwear dedicated solely to pain relief. Invented by Al Gallegos to initially help runners with numerous pain issues, the company quickly realized Z-CoiL customers were reporting pain relief for standard foot, leg and back pain-related ailments caused by disease, injury or overuse. Z-CoiLs have been slowly gaining ground with podiatrists as more patients discover the benefits.



Dr. Mark Lambert, D.P.M. at Pensacola Foot & Ankle Center in Pensacola, Florida and Dr. Timothy Young, D.P.M. at Issaquah Foot & Ankle Specialists of Issaquah (Photo), Washington have been using Z-CoiL Footwear with their patients for more than a year and are finding extraordinary outcomes. Dr. Ed Espe, a podiatrist in Bemidji, Minnesota has also experienced positive results with his patients.

“I can’t count the number of patients I have seen in the past twenty years with lower extremity problems due, at least in part, to their footwear. I am constantly on the lookout for innovations in footwear,” Dr. Espe says. “The Z-CoiL concept appears to be a potential breakthrough after years of gimmicky modifications to (mostly) athletic shoes. I can see great possibilities for our aging population to remain active for a longer period of time and for prevention of injuries in athletes.” The footwear is made with a rigid nylon and glass fiber UCBstyle prefabricated orthotic mounted on a coil spring at the heel to absorb impact and return some of the stored energy to the foot.

By Pam Trhlik, Communications
Manager, Z-CoiL Footwear

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(NOTE: The article is in .PDF format.)

The American Podiatric Medical Association Urges Americans to 'Knock Your Socks Off' at Every Doctors' Visit

BETHESDA, Md., Oct. 25 -- Did you know diabetes is the leading cause of non-traumatic foot amputations each year?

The feet often show the first signs of more severe medical conditions, such as diabetes, but they often are overlooked by primary health care physicians. The American Podiatric Medical Association's "Knock Your Socks Off" campaign encourages patients to ask their primary healthcare physician to examine their feet as part of their regular check-up.

"All too often, people have symptoms of diabetes, such as numbness in the feet, and don't even know it," says APMA President Dr. Lloyd Smith. "Early detection is paramount and something as simple as taking your shoes and socks off for a foot screening could assist in the diagnosis of diabetes earlier."

Close to 5.2 million people in the U.S. have diabetes and don't even know it, according to the American Diabetes Association. With foot disease as the most common complication of diabetes leading to hospitalization, the American Podiatric Medical Association suggests looking for these foot related diabetes warning signs:

* Redness
* Numbness
* Swelling
* Cold to the touch due to a lack of blood circulation
* Inflammation


Out of the 13 million people with diabetes in the U.S., 60 to 70 percent have mild to severe forms of diabetic nerve damage, which often includes impaired sensation or pain in the feet and hands. For this very reason, The American Podiatric Medical Association has selected the "Knock Your Socks Off" campaign to raise awareness about the importance of having feet, like any other part of the body, checked regularly.

Reggie Wilson: Customer Interview

Reggie Wilson drives a bus. It’s a thankless job filled with stress, time pressures and difficult customers. So, why does he love it? And, why would busy people actually wait for his bus? Because Reggie makes his customers smile! Listen to the Reggie Interview/Rap when he walked into the store yesterday looking for directions to the Red Balloon Shop.

Reggie's Web Site

‘Singing bus driver’ brings positive media focus to Metro

In just a few short months, Reggie Wilson has become a media celebrity as one of Metro’s outstanding operators.

It all started at the February shake-up, when Wilson jokingly told his passengers he was moving away. Heartbroken to be losing their beloved driver, some of the passengers called the Seattle Times to praise the man who filled their morning commute with songs and jokes.

The Times story ended up on the front page, catching the attention of readers and other media outlets. Since then, Wilson has been featured on KOMO Television; been a call-in guest on a Portland radio station; spoken to high school students about job satisfaction; and starred in a motivational video about getting the most out of your career.

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Dreaded foot injury has Sonics' Lewis in limbo

Dreaded foot injury has Sonics' Lewis in limbo: "Rashard Lewis has missed three practices and two preseason games in the week since he was diagnosed with plantar fasciitis in his left foot.

He was out again yesterday and still doesn't know when he might be able to play again. In fact, no one does, which is precisely what makes it such a difficult situation, said Sonics coach Nate McMillan.

'That's exactly what is hard about it,' McMillan said. 'What I've experienced with that injury is you don't know how long it will take to get better.'
Lewis went through a shooting workout on Monday and said his foot was sore and tender afterward. He was told yesterday by Mike Shimensky, the team's trainer, that he probably won't be ready to play on Saturday against San Antonio, and McMillan said it wouldn't be a problem if Lewis missed the remaining four preseason games.

Plantar fasciitis kept Wally Szczerbiak out the first 3 1/2 months last season as he missed 44 games. The injury bothered Mateen Cleaves for half a season in Sacramento, getting so severe he couldn't walk without limping.

Those are worst-case scenarios. Sonics guard Ray Allen said he suffered from it one season, but it never kept him out of a game. The severity of the injury varies, and so does the recovery time.

'I'm starting to get concerned as I hear more and more about it. How long this injury can have you out,' Lewis said. 'I think my main goal is I really wanted to play in a couple more preseason games just to get my rhythm and ... work on my game.'"

By DANNY O'NEIL
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

Seattle Times Article
Tacoma Tribune

ContraCostaTimes.com | Relieve foot strain step by step

WICHITA, Kan. - Some people say it feels like a sharp rock is poking you in the heel with each step.

For Nancy Robinson, it was as if "somebody had taken a hot knife and was twisting it in the bottom of my foot." Orthopedic surgeon Steve Howell has seen plenty of it, as a clinical assistant professor for the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita and during a foot and ankle fellowship at Vanderbilt University.

"It" is plantar fasciitis, or inflammation of the plantar fascia, the ligament running from the base of the toes to the bottom of the heel bone.

It's caused mostly by overuse and -- wouldn't you know it? -- made worse by excess weight and increasing age. Which means you might someday experience it, even if you've never heard of it before.

The good news is, it will go away, though treatment may take more than a year.

Robinson's pain started about 18 months ago. It was gradual at first but kept getting worse, "so that I noticed sometimes I was really grouchy and I didn't know why, and then I'd realize -- my foot hurts really bad."

She speculates that being on her feet a lot (she owns a gift shop) "and I think maybe old age" (she's 57) contributed to the condition.

That's a possibility.

Howell says the blood supply to the ligaments starts declining as we get into our 20s, and the slowing metabolism and increasing weight that often go with getting older add to the stress on ligaments.

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By Karen Shideler
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS

Total Relief Footwear - Testimonial: Tammy Healy

Total Relief Footwear - Jobst Supportwear: "It was a Saturday afternoon when I limped into Total Relief Footwear. I could not imagine that I was going to have the ability to hike with our students that we were taking to Big Bend the very next day. My feet hurt everywhere and we were going to be hiking every day for a week. I expected that I might be able to 'tough it out' on the shorter hikes, but for the longer ones, I'd be sitting in camp. A friend had recommended Z-CoiLs, and although I was a skeptic, I was desperate.

A single mom with three kiddos and on a tight budget, I couldn't believe I was spending more than $30 on a pair of shoes for myself! But, again, I was desperate and my foot pain was beginning to affect not only my job (I work in a clinic and have to be on my feet a lot) but my time with my kids as well. I'd come home from work and flop down on the couch because my feet were killing me. Many nights my oldest son would make dinner and bring it to me because I just couldn't spend any more time on my feet. It's amazing how just about every aspect of your life is negatively affected if your feet are hurting. To compound the problem, I didn't have medical insurance, and really couldn't afford the cortisone injections that had been suggested. I decided that one visit to the doctor, for a temporary fix at best, was going to cost me more than the shoes would. "

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My Story: ShoeBox Mary - Z-CoiL Dealer Anchorage, Alaska

My mother was in Nakiski, Alaska visiting a friend she had gone to high school with. Now, that is a miracle in itself, as they are in their 70's and they know where each other lives and one isn't pushing up daisies.

They went up to Kenai, Alaska, about 15 miles away, to get some plants for her friend yard. While at the greenhouse my mother saw these goofy looking shoes with coils on the back and asked about them. She was told they were for pain. The lady sold them and then let you return them if they didn't fit. So, Mom got a flyer telling all about them as she was not sure of my size.

When she got back to Anchorage, she called and told me about these crazy looking shoes that were suppose to help with pain and that she had a flyer about them and would put it on the refrigerator so I could pick it up the next time I was over.

Several weeks went by and I had been to her house a few times but we had both forgotten about the flyer.

Early one morning a friend from the Kenai area called and was telling me about the shoes as they knew I had just started working a new job and was having real problems with my hips as the concrete aggravated my arthritis. They said they were selling like crazy there.

Later that night about midnight, I went to bed but just couldn't seem to get comfortable. I finely dozed off and out of no where I hear:

"Don't buy them, sell them".
W h a t....
Something goofy is going on....I rolled over and finally dozed again and I heard it again,

"Don't buy them, sell them".

Now something is getting real goofy...what am I suppose to not buy, but sell? (I didn't think of the shoes as it had been way over 12-14 hour since I had talked to my friend).

I finally got to sleep and about 4:30 AM I sat straight up in bed and said,"it's those damn shoes!!".

The next day I got up and headed to my mothers and got the flyer, came home and went upstairs to my friends and had them go on line and see if they could find out where to get them. We got the number.

The next day was a Monday and I called and asked if they were looking for dealers. I asked for information to be sent to me. (I had never had a pair on my feet.)

I got the information and of course it said you had to have a pair and like them before you could be a dealer.

I called and order my shoes and the day after I got them I wore them to work. No more pain! That was Aug 3 of 2000 and I opened the store on Nov 1, 2000. We had to wait till they got an order in October to get our first order of shoes.

NOW THE REST OF THE STORY: My father was a diabetic and heart patient. He passed away Feb 7, 2000. Before his death he had lost both legs just below the knee because of diabetes but was still able to walk with prostheses up to the day of his death. My mother and I started The Shoe Box from the life insurance he left her. After we became dealers, we found out that Z-Coil was working on a diabetic shoe. This has not progressed to well to date but is still something they are working on. After selling Z-Coils to many diabetic people, I have found how much they have helped with this affliction.

I believe these shoes are the new-age answer to many health issues and I guess someone "up there" thought the same thing. Don't know where the voice came from that told me to do this but when things get tight I just say "OK you better help me out here or I can't get the bills paid" and it seems to work every time.

Now I guess you have most of my story. The rest is - we were the first retail Z-Coil shoe store other than the one the company has in Albuquerque.

Shoe Box Mary

P.S. My mother now suffers from Alzheimer's so doesn't work in the store any more. She use to come in from time to time just to lace shoes or what ever but she isn't driving anymore so once in a blue moon my brother will drop her off for a couple of hours and she will lace shoe.

Click Title For The Shoe Box Mary Blog

Puyallup Fair: Interview - My boss and mother wear Z-CoiLs

Audio Interview: I'm from South Carolina and I wear Z-CoiLs. My name is Davida and my mom is 68 years old. She says her legs hurt, but she mows three acres of grass twice a week wearing Z-CoiLs...

Email reply from FootZCoil

Thanks for the blurp.

Davida told me she saw you at the fair.

She ended up buying a pair of Velcro Cloud Walkers for her mother, a pair of Desert Hikers for her boyfriend, and a pair of Desert Hikers for herself.

What she didn't tell you is that she and my wife are Veternarians and we own our own Hospital with 21 employees.

I have been open 21/2 years.
The local newspaper just did an article on me yesterday.
I use talk radio and will be on again this week-end for an hour talking about fitness w/Z's.

Thanks again,

Marc

Puyallup Fair: Interview - Now, my wife has to keep up with me!

Audio Interview: My name is Frank. The reason why I bought these shoes is because for over 10-15 years I have had sore feet. I had surgery on one foot and...

Note: On Sunday the last day of the fair, Frank returned to the booth and purchased a pair of Black Cloudwalkers. See Puyallup Photo Gallery Album 27 & 30

Puyallup Fair: Interview - Last Christmas I could not walk - I really couldn't

Audio Interview: Karen Bates - I'm telling you. I could not live without these things. I really wouldn't. I could not walk at Christmas and...

Z Shoe Store Etc., TV Commercial

Z Shoe Store Etc., Commercial Check out the Z-CoiL TV commercial from Z Shoe Store Etc, Scottsdale, Arizona. (Click Title)

Rio Rancho Observer Online : Balloon fiesta gets underway

Rio Rancho Observer Online: "ALBUQUERQUE - October in New Mexico is a delight to all the senses.

Leaves are turning autumnal colors, the smell of roasted green chile is wafting in the air, and hundreds of hot air balloons will soon fill the early morning sky at Balloon Fiesta Park.

Thousands of visitors from around the world have been coming to Albuquerque for 33 years to celebrate earth and sky at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (Watch Video).

This year's theme, 'Freedom in the Air,' captures the magic of adventure and the pioneer spirit of balloon pilots. Balloonists representing one-third of the world's countries will launch their magnificent flying machines to float gently over the beautiful New Mexico landscape, taking in the charm and grace of the view below, and rejoice in the oldest and most elegant form of flight.

The annual event runs through Sunday, Oct. 10."

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Balloon Cams

NOTE: Z-CoiL Footwear is based in Albuquerque, NM and will be exhibiting at the Balloon Fiesta.

Puyallup Fair: Interview - Hair Dresser with Bad Back

Audio Interview: My name is Gay and I've had my Z-CoiL hiking boots for five, six, seven, eight, nine months now and...

NOTE: During the Puyallup Fair, 77 photo/audio interviews were conducted in front of the Your2Feet booth. It would take over two hours to listen to them all in one sitting.