Cluffy Wedge Latest Orthotic Innovation

A New Breakthrough in treating Foot Leg and Back Pain

Excellent for Plantar Fascitis (heel pain), Morton's Neuromas, Shin Splints, Bunions, Hammertoes, Ankle, Knee, Hip and Back Pain

Your feet are your foundation. Walking is a complex interplay of 26 individual bones and 33 joints in your foot that affect motion and balance of the rest of your body. If normal foot function is disrupted, then we are forced to compensate, and pain is often the result. The pain is not limited to your feet-it can also affect our ankle, knee, hip and back joints.

Introducing the Cluffy Wedge

In the late 1990's, James Clough, DPM, a podiatrist in Great Falls, Montana, made a ground-breaking discovery. While most of us have some range of motion in our big-toe-joint, Dr. Clough observed that over 80 percent of his adult patients in pain had a big-toe-joint that "locked" when the ball of the foot came in contact with the ground prior to the propulsive, "toe-off" phase of the gait cycle. This condition, medically known as functional hallux limitus (FHL), forces our foot to compensate, usually by twisting outward to navigate around the stiffened big-toe-joint. He also discovered that a small wedge, strategically placed underneath the big toe, provided just enough elevation to "unlock" the big-toe-joint and restore the foot to normal motion.

Our Experience with the Cluffy Wedge at Z-CoiL of Seattle

The results we have seen with the Cluffy Wedge since October 2009 have been nothing short of amazing. When we place the cluffy wedge under a pair of custom or store inserts, we are seeing improved results with plantar fascitis, shin splints, Morton's neuroma pain, knee and hip pain.

Our goal is to test every customer's feet for a locking big-toe-joint and over 90% of our adult customers have this condition. In our opinion, a locking big-toe-joint is normal. It's the price we pay for walking on concrete.

The cluffy wedge has demonstrated success with triathletes, distance runners, and serious exercise enthusiasts. Runners are reporting that common running injuries, such as shin splints are going away. The athletes are reporting better times as their running performance and gait efficiency improves.

Here's What the Experts Are Saying

Dr. Douglas Richie says: " The Cluffy Wedge is the most significant breakthrough in orthotic breakthrough in the past 10 years. This simple innovation improves function in the first ray and enhances the windlass mechanism." Dr. Richie can arguably be called the father of custom made orthotic therapy.

Our in house podiatrist, Dr. Lotchie Kerch, says " There are two things I am on the look-out for after the customer has been fitted with the appropriate shoe style. I want to examine the motion of the great toe joint and check for limb length discrepancy (one leg shorter than the other). The simple solutions of inserting and adjusting a heel lift combined with the cluffy wedge solves a majority of symptoms that people come to get relief from."

More:

By wearing the Cluffy wedge you will notice a change in your gait that makes you feel better at toe-off. This happens because the Cluffy allows more motion in the great toe joint

The Cluffy test we administer in our store will determine if you are a good candidate for the wedge.

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All About Rocker Sole Shoes - RYN, MBT & Skechers Comparison

Unstable or Stable? Which type of rocker sole shoe is the best for you? Store owner Cam White discusses the benefits of rocker sole shoes and provides tips for selecting the right shoe for you.

Jewel says "The Z-CoiLs Make Everything Not Hurt"

Jewel Martinez-Velasquez bought her first pair of Z-CoiL's 5 years ago. At that time there was a store in Puyallup. Her first pair was a gray Zueco Clog that has since been discontinued. However we have a few left in stock on sale. We had her size so she was happy.

She had her high desert hikers tuned up with a new pair of coils and Insoles. After watching her walk, she needed a coil adjustment. The coil's were turned 90 degrees to correct for her over-pronation. She is unable to wear sandals because of how much she pronates, but then they never turned her coils on the sandals. We'll have to try that out next.

Jewel found out about the Z-CoiL's when she saw someone in Pet Smart wearing them. She was a dog Food Rep at that time for Blue Buffalo-totally natural, holistic, and fit for human consumption.

For the past three and 1/2 years she has worked as a special projects coordinator for Rest Co. She goes into Safeway with a schematic of how things are to be displayed on the shelves. Discontinued items are removed, etc. The company also does projects for other companies such as for J & J. This job involves 10-12 hour days walking on cement.

Her issues are with foot pain. She has progressive degenerative joint disease in her feet, plantar fascitis and she overpronates. She's tried custom made orthotics, but they have not worked. The only thing that has worked are the Z-CoiLs. She says,"It took some breaking them in and she had to learn a new way to walk. Then everything fell into place. I got 100% relief as long as I wear them. I can't walk without my Z-CoiL's."

"People ask me about the shoes all the time. I tell them the benefits are great. The Z-CoiL's absorb the shock so you don't get that jolt up the legs and back. The Z-CoiL's also help to not create problems. The Z-CoiL's make everything not hurt."

It Doesn't Matter How Much They Cost, If They Can Take Away The Pain

Toni Galiirobbins and Robb Robbins have been married for 47 years. They met 52 years ago when he was a 16 year old youngster working as a soda jerk. She was 14 years old when she met him.
Toni worked for 15 years running a daycare. Later she was employed at RJ Reynolds doing sales field work.
Robb was a paid firefighter for 31 years in Oakland, CA and Ashland, OR. He worked construction in gravel, concrete, and mud. The mud in particular made it challenging with the Z-CoiL's until he started wearing galoshes.

Toni had been suffering with heel spurs and plantar fascitis for 4 years under the care of her podiatrist. Nothing worked from injections, custom orthotics, physical therapy, etc.

They saw the Z-CoiL's in a window in a Grant's Pass store 10 years ago. Toni was game for anything that could help her heel pain. One month after wearing her first pair of Z-CoiL's 99% of her pain went away.

Her podiatrist warned her not to wear the Z-CoiL's because he thought they were dangerous. Toni says," Yes , they were dangerous- to his practice! I have never had to go back to him."

Toni has at least 8 pairs of Z-CoiL's-different colors, different styles. A black and a white pair of clogs. The athletic shoe "Freedom 2000" in white, in black, in blue and white. Two pairs of sandals, one in beige/tan, one in black.

Robb has 8 pairs including the pair he bought today-the Z-trek. The Z-trek is a good all around shoe. Robb started wearing them after asking his wife if she thought the Z-CoiL's might help his hip and back pain. His right leg is 3/4 inch shorter than his left. He pronates (rolls in ) more on his right side. After several attempts, the Grant's Pass store was able to find the right coil configuration to work for him. The coils last a long time. He replaces them every 2 years.

Robb now wears an extra large coil on his right side and a medium coil on his left side. He has the right coil turned 90 degrees on most of his shoes. Today we had him try a left XL on his right foot. These modifications help control his pronation and amount the coil descends on walking. He will consider enclosed coils now since swapping right for left XL on his right seems to be helping.

Toni and Robb square dance 2-3 times a week. At conventions they are dancing 4-6 hours a day. The Z-CoiL's help the pain especially on concrete floors. On wood they can get away with cowboy boots some of the time, wearing Z-CoiL's between dances.

Robb says, " I want the Z-CoiL cowboy boots. They will be my next pair."

Toni and Robb," We tell people about them all the time. If they have time, they get the whole story. If not, we give them the abbreviated story. These Z-CoiL's helped what was causing me pain. "

"It doesn't matter how much they cost if they take away the pain. "

Brennan-The Kid Reporter- On The Today Show

Have you seen Brennan in the news covering the Olympics? He scored some great interviews-both being interviewed and giving interviews. Click the link above to see the interview by Sara Haines on the Today Show.

Z-CoiL Explained-Click Here

Kid Reporter Port Townsend-Brennan LaBrie Seeks Relief From Z-CoiL

Colleen LaBrie and her son, Brennan visited our store at the corner of Minor and Pine today searching for relief from upper back and neck pain. Brennan suffered a fall 2 weeks ago that has left Brennan suffering with severe back pain. He rates his pain a 9 out of 10 on the pain scale. (Owner, Dr. Lotchie Kerch is pictured with Brennan and Colleen.)
Help from an acupuncturist, chiropractor, and GP has rendered no relief. Advil doesn't touch the pain. "I hurt when I walk, when I swing a door open, when I try to run or ride a bike. I can't do anything without having pain. I have pain all the time."
They had heard of Z-CoiL of Seattle from collaborator Jack Olmsted of Port Townsend. Jack let Brennan and Colleen try on his Size 8 Z-CoiLs last week. Jack is the author of the unofficial blog for Z-CoiL pain relief footwear.
Jack introduced our store, Z-CoiL of Seattle, to the new medium of the blog years before it was popular. Jack has helped Brennan and Colleen advance to the next level in the video realm. They met Jack 5 months ago at a Port Townsend fair event.
Brennan was already on the radar in the journalism world. His newspaper, "Brennan's Spruce St. Weekly" has been published for two years. Since he's 10 years old now, that means his talent for journalism was already blossoming at 8 years old. He does his own jokes, cartoons and hand written articles.
Brennan prefers to report on "good news" in Port Townsend, surrounding communities and Seattle.His other talent is investigative reporting. He sells his newspaper for 25 cents each and has a 250 readership due to word of mouth popularity. There are the farmers to interview; a recent visit by Cloris Leachman gave a rare opportunity; stores opening or closing all make it to the newspaper.
Brennan says, "I love people. Everyone has a good story. I am going to Whistler Village and plan on interviewing the "man in the street" in Vancouver. My curiosity stirs me to ask questions. I catch the look in someones eye and usually always have something to report about."
He continues,"Recently a deer got hit be a car. A loud explosion was heard afterward. Investigative reporting is really fun. I went to the police station to find out what happened to the deer. The officer was reluctant to tell me the deer was shot to stop it from suffering. He thought I would get said so he didn't want to tell me what really happened."
Brennan and Colleen left Z-CoiL of Seattle with the same style of Z-CoiL,the Z-Walker Velcro.
Brennan commented, "I feel better walking in the Z-CoiLs. I think they are great shoes. I especially like the velcro feature of the Z-CoiLs since you can just slip them on and off easier."
Brennan has a great love and passion that makes him a natural for journalism.
To his credits are a Nov 17 interview of Apollo Ohno. Appollo was born in Federal Way, but currently has been training in Salt Lake City. Brie Shaaf is a woman competitor in the 2 man bobsled Olympic event. She lives in Bremerton. She will be giving Brennan a tour of the Olympic Village and the Whistler Sliding Center. This is where the luge, skeleton and bobsled events are being held. I saw Brennan last night on the Evening Show. Today he was live on the King 5 morning news show. He was excited about the experience, " I never had seen the inside of a TV studio before." So much and more for this aspiring young reporter! Visit his blog for more info: brennanlabrie.blogspot.com

Click Here For the January Newsletter From Z-CoiL of Seattle

For February Z-CoiL Newsletter Click Here

Seattle's First Love

Louisa Boren and David Denny

It was the perfect pioneer romance: Nineteen-year-old David Denny and 24-year-old Louisa Boren fell in love on the Oregon Trail in 1851, during the long trek from Illinois. They caught trout together at Soda Springs to feed the hungry party, then fended off a Shoshone brave's attempt to trade horses for Louisa.

Denny, the party's trailblazer, was the first to reach Puget Sound. Dispatched north to scout prospects, he sent back word: "Come at once." On January 23, 1853, David Maynard, the territory's first justice of the peace, joined David and Louisa in Seattle's first wedding ceremony. It kept things all in the family, or families; David's widowed father had already married Louisa's widowed mother, and his older brother was married to her older sister. The mind reels.

David staked out 160 acres at the settlement's wild north end, today's Seattle Center (hence Denny Way). Louisa planted roses, earning the sobriquet "sweet briar bride," and bore eight children. Optimistic and generous, David toiled tirelessly and invested eagerly in every new project-mining, farming, real estate, a sawmill, a streetcar line. He got rich, built a mansion, then lost it all in the Panic of 1893. He and Louisa retreated ever farther into the woods, first to today's Fremont, then to a tiny cabin at Licton Springs, where he died 50 years after they wed.

Love Your Heart!

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Z-CoiL explained on YouTube: Frequently asked questions

February also brings the celebration of Mardi Gras About Seattle Fat Tuesday followed by the season for reflection before Easter, called Lent. Lent Explained Ash Wednesday is February 17 this year which follows all the festivities the night before. Fat Tuesday is February 16 this year.

We wish you and your loved ones a deepening awareness of your love for one another. This month allows time for spiritual renewal and growing closer to the Greatest Love of All.

Read Our February Newsletter

Look What You Can Do in Your Z-CoiL's!

Taurean McLean has fun with Simon wearing his Z-CoiL's.

Going to the Dogs? Z-CoiL's Fill You With Pep!

When your dogs get really tired, come to Z-CoiL of Seattle!... and your feet as well. We'll fill you with zip.

Taurean McLean is pictured here with his feisty terriers. These soft coated Wheaton terriers are bilingual. Taurean has had them since they were puppies. The white one is Sheba. The brown one is Simon. Simon has distinct lineage and is a Finnish champ. He has competed in his lifetime.

Taurean and his wife visited Tucson three years ago to purchase their second dog.

The breeder was wearing the Z-CoiL pain relief footwear.

Taurean says, " My wife was suffering from a bad case of plantar fascitis. She bought 2 pair-the Freedom and Z-walker styles. I thought they looked cool so I bought the Freedom style as well."

He continues, " I have flat feet which translates into other problems in my knees and hips. I enjoy the Z-CoiL footwear. They make my feet feel enormously better at the end of the day."

Taurean and his wife live in Mexico near Puerto Vallarta in the country. They have lived there since Taurean retired his financial consulting business seven years ago.

They are remodeling their house in Kirkland. When completed the house will be going on the market soon. They want to get back to Mexico in the next few weeks so look for a real bargain!

"I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO WORK WITHOUT MY Z-COILS!"

JoAnn Sherrick has worked at Sam's Club for seven years. Now she is a photo attendant, but for years she was doing demo work. This was very strenuous on her body since the floors are concrete.
Before this job she worked as a waitress for 50 years. She would have liked to stay there, but that was before she learned about Z-CoiLs. The pain she was having made her quit. She suffered a fall at work and sprained her back. She never missed a day until she quit.
Then she fell at the Northgate Mall and shattered her humerus (arm bone). Within a year and a half she had six surgeries to repair that fracture.
She has had severe back pain for 18 years, worsening every year. The diagnoses includes degeneration of the spine, floating and bulging disc, scoliosis, and the spinal nerve endings are exposed. She has arthritis from the neck all the way down the back.
Her doctor states that, since there are so many levels of her back injury, they can't operate. He said "What if it doesn't heal?" Her orthopedists give her pills and send her away.
Things really changed six or seven years ago when she first started wearing the Z-CoiL pain relief footwear. JoAnn says, "I wouldn't be able to work without my Z-CoiLs. I wish I had known about the Z-CoiL's when I was a waitress. I would have been able to continue working at that job if I had worn them."
She continues,"These shoes help so much when I am walking. I tried switching to my Clarks for a walk to the mall. I had so much pain I had to take a break to take my pain pills. I learned my lesson. I used to refuse to wear my Z-CoiLs in certain situations, but I know the Z-CoiL's stop the pain. I don't want that pain back so I wear my Z-CoiL's."
Her first pair of Z-CoiL pain relief footwear were the Freedom Black (athletic shoe) style. About two years later she bought the black Taos Strap ( Mary Jane style). A year ago she purchased the Loryn style.
She has found if she replaces her open coils every year this totally rejuvenates her Z-CoiL pain relief shoes. She bought a new pair of coils today at Z-CoiL of Seattle at the base of Capital Hill. It was not necessary to adjust her Z-CoiL shoes. Most people do not need any custom adjustments, but the Lynco or Superfeet orthotics add an amount of support to the Z-CoiL experience.
JoAnn says, "I used to wear out $120.00 shoes in 3 months. I'm on my feet so many hours that normal shoes just do not last long. My Z-CoiLs last much longer. If you have back or leg pain, these Z-CoiL's help a lot."
JoAnn is a young 72 years old and gives testimony that you can return to work ( if you want to) without pain wearing the Z-CoiL footwear.

Postal Worker's Job Made Painfree

Scott Harris has been a postal worker for the past 30 years. He is planning to retire to the Phillipines in four years. He has property there in Cebu.

About five years ago Scott came to Z-CoiL of Seattle at the base of Capital Hill with an appointment to see the onsite consulting podiatrist Dr. Kerch. He was diagnosed with plantar fascitis and was treated accordingly. Since his pain was so severe he was a candidate for foot surgery.

Scott says, " I was due to go under the knife, but the Z-CoiL Pain Relief Footwear relieved my pain".

"I bought my first pair of Z-CoiL's five years ago. Now I have four pairs. The regular postal shoes last six months. These 4 pairs are the longest lasting shoes I have ever worn. My four pairs are all usable after five years. Even the coils on my shoes, open and enclosed coils, have lasted two years. The Z-CoiL shoes are well worth the money, not even taking into consideration the health benefits."

"I prefer the enclosed coils because wearing the open coils delays me an additional 30 minutes to do my mail route. Not as many people stop me to ask about my shoes when I wear the enclosed coils. When I wore my solar cap and the Z-CoiL shoes, I couldn't even get out of the elevator because of having so many people asking me questions.

-What are those?

I've never seen them before.

Are those the basketball shoes with the springs that strengthen the calf for training? (No, these are mostly therapeutic shoes)

Now I mostly wear the enclosed coils. I have more energy and I am not so worn out at the end of the day-it's like walking on a cloud."

"I'm really satisfied with the Z-CoiL shoes. They are great for walking on concrete."

"I tried the rocker sole type shoes, but they do not have the same effect. Those rocker soles really aren't for plantar fascitis since they lean you back more toward your heels."

Z-CoiL Contest Entry - Mother's Little Helpers

The Best Idea on Two Feet Z-Coil footwear commercial contest entry.

Bob Graduated from Dottie's Hand-Me-Downs to His own Z-CoiLs.

Bob Graham visited our store, Z-CoiL of Seattle, from So. Miami. He works for Univision, a Spanish TV network for the past 30 years. He was in town for the soccer match this week-end. It is a MLS- Major League Soccer game, LA Galaxy versus Utah. Featured will be David Beckham and lots of Spanish players. Players from both teams make up the US team competing for the World Cup.

Bob is staying at the Hyatt here in Seattle. Machiavelli's is a couple of doors down from our store. On the way back to the Hyatt after a delicious Italian dinner at Machivaellis, he spotted our store. The next day he came right over for his third pair of Z-CoiL's. He has been wearing Z-CoiL shoes for the past 8 years.

He first saw the Z-CoiL shoes being worn by an ICU nurse in Phoenix 10 years ago.

Bob's wife Dottie started wearing the Z-CoiL shoes first, about nine years ago. Dottie now has 9 pairs of Z-CoiL's: 2 pairs of athletic shoes (Freedom) blue and white and one is all white, Black Mary Jane style, Black clog, and another sneaker type.

Bob got Dottie's hand me downs for 5-6 years. "These shoes just last so long".

Bob purchased his first new pair of Z-CoiL shoes about three years ago.

Last summer Dottie gave away Bob's brown hiking boots to a friend who had very bad shin splints. The shin splints went away. "You can't pry the Z-CoiL's off his feet", Bob said. This friend's wife helped them obtain their first Chinese baby adoption. She was 13 months old at the time of adoption and is now 4 years old. The paperwork is in now for a second Chinese adoption. Bob said, "Being 50 and having a 4 year old child keeps me young."

His previous pair of dress sandals he forgot to put up and the Z-CoiL's got chewed on by their puppy. This left him Z-CoiL-less and on the hunt for a new pair.

Today he is trying out the enclosed coils on a pair of gray hiking boots. After being evaluated on the I-Step machine, he was fitted for a pair of supportive Lynco orthotics. The enclosed coil can be attached to any Z-CoiL style.

Dottie has lower back pain that the Z-CoiL's help eliminate. She worked as a trauma nurse, but now is getting her masters to be a nurse practioner.

When they were in China, the Chinese people were taking pictures of the Z-CoiL footwear. In the US Dottie and Bob are telling people about the Z-CoiL's.

Speaking of China,Audrey S. visited our Z-CoiL store from China while visiting Seattle. She is an ex-patriot. Her mother in Spokane raved about the shoes so much she convinced her daughter to get a pair. Audrey was evaluated on the I-Step Pressue Analysis and was fitted with the Lynco supportive orthotics in her new Z-CoiL brown hikers and two pairs of our great socks that keep you warm while wicking away any moisture on your feet.

40th High School Class Reunion Unites the Brown's With Z-CoiL's

Al and Helen Brown were surprised to see Nancy Chong on stage giving a quilting lesson at Al's 40th Redmond High School reunion in these strange looking shoes.

After Nancy explained how the shoes work to reduce impact on the joints, Al and Helen went to learn more. They bought their first pair at the Bellevue location.

That was six years ago. The store in Bellevue went out of business so they found us for other pairs.

Al owns a pair of brown hikers as well as gray and black hikers. He needed new insoles for the hikers since he wears them so much. In addition to a pair of black freedom athletic shoes, he acquired a pair of Sandias on sale today ( sale limited to overstock on hand).

Helen is just as enthusiastic for Z-CoiL footwear. She owns the black freedom's as well as the white freedom's. Today she bought the Loryn's on sale ( sale limited to overstock on hand).

Helen says the only maintenance she has had to do is obtain a new set of coils four years ago. "These shoes are worth the money since they last so long and help me so much!"

Helen used to have nagging pain in her neck and shoulders. Not only has this pain gone away wearing the Z-CoiL shoes, she notices she stands straighter as well.

"They told us to break the shoes in slowly, but we did not do that. We wore them all the time from the start."

Al is so much better from the pain and stiffness he had in his foot, leg and back since wearing the Z-CoiL pain relief footwear. The burning and numbness in his feet and pain in his legs started after two hours on his feet. Now he goes up and down the stairs with no problems.

"So many people stop us to ask:

Are they comfortable?

Can you jump fences?

What are they for?

I just hand them a card and tell them they are good for foot, leg and back pain."

Al and Helen are building a house at Steven's Pass. They used to be skiers until a couple of years ago. They currently live in Bellevue.

Joe Runs With Relief

Joe Etchart lives in Montana and came to our store recently while visiting our fair city.

Joe bought his blue and white Freedom 2000 (athletic shoes) eight or ten years ago.

These are the only shoes he is able to run in that don't bother his knees. He bought the Z-CoiL's in Albuquerque after his family told him about them. At that time the old location for the Z-CoiL corporate store was in Albuquerque it is now in a bigger store in a new location) . He was pleased with the service since his gait was analyzed for the need of any coil adjustment.

He had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee and open surgery on his left knee. The knee trouble made it hard for him to run until he found the Z-CoiL Pain Relief Footwear. Now he runs five miles a day.

The maintenance of the footwear includes replacing the coils for new ones every so often. This is accomplished by unscrewing the old coils and screwing in the new coils.

When his kids were younger he wore the Z-CoiL's to their track meets. Many folks asked about them and he told them they work for him.

"Exercise is very important to me and without the Z-CoiLs I wouldn't be able to do it."have been the only thing that works for me to keep me active".

Joe is involved in ranching, manages real estate and is on the Board of Directors of Alpine Air, a regional freighter airline.