Arthritis Awareness Month

May is Arthritis Awareness Month:

Our store, Your 2 Feet, will be fitting the arthritis chair of the Mt. Vernon chapter who will be participating in the May 13 Mt. Vernon walk with Z-coil pain relief footwear after measuring for pressure analyses with the I-Step. This will allow a fitting for the proper type of Lynco arch supports/ orthoses.

Arthritis sufferers have benefited from wearing the pain relief footwear in many circumstances. Since there are over 31 adjustments, caution is recommended for a slow break in period until the proper adjustment has been obtained. The main effect of the shoes is to reduce impact. They have been shown to reduce impact by 50% or more. You will also notice your center of gravity changes when wearing the shoes. This engages different muscles, the lateral stabilizing muscles, with every step. It is often necessary to wear them for as little as an hour the first day, and increasing the wearing time gradually every day. As you become stronger, this sensation of "bouncing" and balancing dissipates during the break in period.

Depending on your type of arthritis, as well as which stage of progression you are in, this new way of combating the negative forces of gravity may prove very beneficial for relieving your arthritis symptoms. As you are reducing your impact via the coil action, there is a component of ground reactive forces that provides an energy return as well. This redistributes the forces through your lower extremity. I recommend caution in more advanced arthritis since the compensation necessary to accomodate for this redistribution may not be available. I see this footwear as a device to be added to the armentarium of arthritis sufferers, and the providers attempting to relieve their patients suffering. The results, positive or negative, are immediate, minutes or at least within five days. We allow a trial wearing for five days. Returns for full refund of footwear in resellable condition are allowed within that five day period.

Visit the "Your 2 Feet" store for more info and get your own evaluation in Seattle-1201 Pine St or 1764 NW 56th St. Or call 206-782-7300. See us at The Fremont Fair in June as well. May 21 is our in store event "Free Foot Screening Day". We will have pedorthist Ed Cael, and podiatrist Dr. Lotchie M. Kerch performing I-step evaluations for Lynco orthoses. Adding these devices to the footbed of the Z-coil pain relief footwear adds an increased element of support and cushioning making them the "cadillac" of impact reducing footwear with a rocker sole.

May is National Arthritis Month, and the Arthritis
Foundation is looking for walkers to raise money to
fight the painful disease.

About one of every three adults and about 300,000
children are afflicted with arthritis nationwide.

In May and June, Washington State Arthritis Walks and
health fairs are scheduled in four counties:

Skagit
May 14 at the Cascade Mall in Burlington

Kitsap
May 21 at Waterfront Park in Silverdale

Pierce
June 4 at Owens Beach at Point Defiance Park in Tacoma


Spokane
June 18 at Centennial Trail at Gonzaga University in
Spokane

The mission of the Arthritis Foundation is to improve
lives through leadership in the prevention, control
and cure of arthritis and related diseases. The
Arthritis Walk is the Arthritis Foundation's
nationwide event that raises awareness and funds to
fight arthritis, the nation's leading cause of
disability.

The walk serves as more than a fund-raiser and roaming
support group. Another goal is to promote a greater
awareness that the condition victimizes even the very
young, contrary to the common misconception that
arthritis is a condition striking only the elderly.
Arthritis affects more children in the United States
than muscular dystrophy, cystic fibrosis and
sickle-cell anemia combined.

Testimonial: Susan Rogers

I suffer with a disability known as "dropped foot" (also called "foot drop"). This is a result of a ruptured disc in my lower back, which has since been removed, but has left me with some lasting nerve and muscle damage, the worst of it being "dropped foot" on my left side.

I cannot lift my left foot at all and must concentrate on every single step I take. I walk with a limp and cannot run, jump, skip, or dance. Sometimes I stagger because I cannot support myself with my left foot. And because I also can't lower my body weight on the left foot, my whole left side takes an extra jolt every time I put that foot down when I'm walking.

It is jarring and painful and adversely affects everything from heel to ankle, knee, hip, and lower back. Chronic pain becomes a constant companion, and walking becomes an activity I want to do as little as possible, to avoid the pain. When I do walk, I must focus on each step to try to lessen the pain. I cannot walk along absent-mindedly, like most people do, or I will come down harder on the left side. Even with concentration, I could not avoid the limp and some pain, and after 10 years of this, I had developed a chronic pain in my left hip that kept me awake at night.

I would buy good running shoes, the ones with the most cushioning in the heel that I could find, and wear them until the cushion in the left shoe was mashed down from the pounding it had taken. The shoes would last two months at the most. I also own every gel and cushion insole out there.

Several weeks ago, my husband saw a colleague wearing [Z-CoiL® footwear] and asked her about them. She explained that she was wearing them because of knee and back pain and she said they helped her. He wondered if they would help me.

I contacted a dealer 29 miles away and he called headquarters in Albuquerque to inquire about any other people with drop foot who had been helped. I was encouraged when I learned that one gentleman with drop foot had great results. This encouragement was enough to get me beyond the negative Good Housekeeping review I had seen that was not very scientific or helpful. (more)

Swedish Walking Program Keeps Ballard Healthy

I met with a lively group of morning people today at 8:30AM in the cafeteria at Swedish Hospital, Ballard Campus. After registration, Dr. Waymack performed individual healthy heart screenings while I gave a presentation on "Ten Tips to Keep you Walking". This was followed by a walk to the Ballard Locks and back. Many questions were answered about ways to avoid foot injuries as well as treatment options.

I showed everyone my Z-coil footwear and how they can aide on the road to recovery from injuries.

Call 206-782-7300 for a private consultation in my Ballard or downtown Seattle clinics so I can better assist you in developing your own personalized program for healing and non-narcotic pain relief for lower extremity problems. The walking program is monthly at Swedish Hospital, Ballard Campus.

I will be giving my next talk on this subject May 7, 11:00 AM at Mt. Zion Baptist Church. The talk is entitled: Limp In, Leap Out in conjunction with the African American Conference on Kidney Health. I will also be performing foot screenings, free to the public at this event.

The African American Conference on Kidney Health is a one-day family event with the goal of educating the community about kidney disease, kidney failure, and the potential risk factors that make those worse. The event is free and open to the public. As you many know, it is estimated that over 80,000 persons in the Seattle-King County area have some form of early kidney disease, and that over 100,000 are eligible for early treatment intervention. Increasing education regarding treatment for high blood pressure and diabetes, which is the leading cause of kidney disease, can help in that process.

Workshop sessions are allotted 45 minutes total. Youth are welcome to attend; youth focused sessions will also be offered. The event is scheduled for Saturday, May 7, 2005, 10a to 2:30p at Mt. Zion Baptist Church (1634-19th Ave, corner of 19th and Madison, Seattle).

Tip for the day: Warm up and stretch before and after walking.

Yours in Health,

Lotchie M. Kerch, D.P.M.

2005 Northwest Women's Show: Laura_Sterling's Story

I got my Z-CoiLs because when I first put them on I could feel the difference in my low back. They had been saying that I had degenerative disk (disease) for several years and I knew that I had to take care of it and... (Audio: 2 minutes, WAV)

Laura has been wearing Z-CoiLs for two years.

What is “Lumbar Degenerative Disk Disease?”
For most people with low back pain, an injury doesn't just happen. Instead, over the years, the stress your back has been subjected to begins to take its toll. The repeated sprains and strains and overuse add up and cause a slow degeneration of the disks of the spine. (more)

Seeing is Believing

Using an i-Step machine, I tested my own feet. I actually was surprised to see just how great these shoes are. Below are the results:

"'The introduction of computerized foot analysis systems in the early 90's brought the science of pressure and gait analysis to an exciting phase. Using this new technology, scientific studies demonstrated that there is a direct cause and effect relationship between unbalanced pressure distribution during the gait cycle and lower extremity pain in areas such as the knee, ankle, or foot.' (View Video)

The red areas are those with the most pressure - the blue areas are those with the least pressure.

For this test I first stood on the machine barefoot, the results show a large amount of pressure on my heel and the outside edge of my foot. I roll my feet to the outside, this is called Over Supination. This is a common problem associated with knee and foot pain.

The popular shoe I tested had only been worn for a month and still look brand new. The popular running shoe did nothing but distribute the pressure around the whole foot no real impact reduction.

Next, I put a gel heel pad in my shoe, this took some pressure off my forefoot but my feet still absorbed most of the pressure.

Finally the Z-CoiLs - really do I even have to say anything? The Z-CoiL Spring actually absorbed most of the impact. And the Z-CoiLs I did this test with are a year and a half old.

This truly shows how great this product is."

Jeremy Brock
Feel Good Footwear!
Bellevue, WA

Press Release: April is Foot Health Awareness Month – Pamper Your Feet With a Z-CoiL® Treat

Uniquely Engineered Footwear Brings Welcome Relief to Sore Feet

( Albuquerque, NM ) — Your feet take tremendous abuse. The impact of walking can deliver a force that is two to three times your body weight, and three to five times your body weight when running! No wonder the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) has declared April to be Foot Health Awareness Month, to focus attention on this often-neglected, yet hardest-working part of the body.

“I have been off work for over one year, now going on two because of plantar fasciitis. I have had three different podiatrists as well, numerous orthotics, then I was given a series of shots, from cortisone to steroids and even shots to dissolve nerves in my heels. Nothing worked!” says Jovonne Rodriguez of San Bernardino, CA. By chance she discovered Z-CoiL® Pain Relief Footwear™ and says the shoes have made all the difference.

For millions of people like Jovonne who suffer from foot pain, heel spurs, plantar fasciitis, arthritis, or lower back pain, finding relief from pain may be as simple as finding the right footwear.

“Your Z-CoiL® shoes are a miracle!” Jovonne adds. “Now I actually look forward to going to the mall or to any function just to walk around. I don’t go places and just sit anymore; I’m up and moving or socializing. People don’t realize that they don’t have to go through life with foot pain. I can’t say enough about how your shoes have helped me.” (more)

2005 Northwest Women's Show: Cathy Cheatam's Story

I bought them a year ago at the Northwest Women’s Show because I have very bad shin splints and bursitis in my knees. They give me a springy feeling. When I step down, they spring back. It takes the pressure off my shins. (2 minutes, WAV)

Shin Splints - Pain to either side of the leg bone, caused by muscle or tendon inflammation. It is commonly related to excessive foot pronation (collapsing arch), but may be related to a muscle imbalance between opposing muscle groups in the leg.

Bursitis often affects the areas around the joints in your shoulders, elbows or hips. But you can also have bursitis by your knee, heel and even in the base of your big toe. Bursitis pain usually goes away within a week or so with proper treatment, but recurrent flare-ups are common and can be frustrating.

2005 Northwest Women's Show: Lynn Stritzke's Story

I did the Home Show several weeks ago and the lady (in the booth) next to us let me try hers on. I liked them so much that I went to the store in Bellevue and got a pair and I’ve been wearing them for two weeks, now and...

Press Release: Thousands of Pain Sufferers Becoming Crazy Bout Z-CoiL® Pain Relief Footwear

( Z-CoiL Footwear -- Albuquerque, NM ) - “About a year ago I injured both of my Achilles tendons and was told by my doctor that I had micro-tears in my left and a hole in my right,” says Tania Holloway of Philadelphia. “My doctor told me I had to wear shoes with a two-inch heel for six months to help the tendons heal. I was in pain and hobbling with every step I took.”

Millions of Americans suffer from painful foot, leg, and back problems, and often find prescription pain medications and even surgery don’t solve the problem. Tania’s pain continued until she found Z-CoiL® Pain-Relief Footwear™, a fairly new competitor in the pain relief industry.

After trying her first pair of Z-CoiL® shoes, Tania says, “I hobbled in and bounced out. Within minutes of trying on a pair of the shoes, I was virtually pain-free. I am a true Z-CoiL® devotee and tell everyone about the shoes. I am healed now, but still wear my Z-CoiL® footwear – they are truly may favorite shoes.”

Z-CoiL® Pain Relief Footwear™ is unusual and evokes a wealth of comments, but its wearers are becoming fiercely loyal and defensive about what’s on their feet. The shoes are vastly becoming a hot ticket for people whose careers require extensive hours spent walking or standing, and also to people who suffer from conditions such as plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, arthritis, sciatica, lower back pain, hip pain, and knee problems.

What is so remarkable about Z-CoiL® Footwear? The design is simple and scientifically sound, yet an unexpected component sets them apart. Start with a rigid orthotic plate that offers stability, protection, and support to the foot, combine it with a one-inch-thick neoprene forefoot to cushion each step, and then place a tempered steel coil under the heel to absorb body weight. The result is an unusual-looking yet functional shoe that customers report provides sometimes immediate and unmistakable relief from pain and associated discomfort in the foot, leg or back area.

The history of these shoes is as remarkable as the pain-free success stories they are creating. New Mexico inventor Alvaro Z. Gallegos (photo) is on a mission to help people in pain, and brings a whole new dimension to the footwear. (more)

2005 Northwest Women's Show: Klara Silva's Story

I've been wanting to buys these for about a year and I've always been putting it off. So, finally, yesterday, I made the decision. And let me tell you – I am on cloud 9. I no longer have any knee pain or hip pain…I wish that I had bought them sooner. Listen to Klara's entire story (2 minutes, WAV)

2005 Northwest Women's Show: Tina Shawver's Story

Tina Shawver talks about her Z-CoiL shoes and getting set for sunny weather ahead. (2 minutes, WAV)

Testimonial: Bill F. Jones

We were in the Kentucky hills this last August, specifically at the site of the Battle of Camp Wildcat. This is a very rough area, with sheer cliffs, steep hills, lots of trees, practically no roads and only rocky, dirt paths. It has not changed appreciably since 1862. There is one trail that leads through the hollow and up the mountain spine to the top, where the Union forces had dug trenches (which are still there).

Four of us started on the 3½-mile trail. Two dropped out at the one-mile point; the other two, including me, went all the way to the top. This picture of me was taken there, and gives you an idea of the terrain. Unfortunately, there is so much broken ground, leaves, rocks and sticks, that you can't even see the shoes.

But since the most frequent question I get on your shoes is, "Don't they make you unsteady?" it is nice to show you what kind of ground you can cross with these shoes, and they actually are more stable than conventional shoes due to the firm heel support. . . . I enjoy telling people just how versatile and effective these shoes are and being able to prove it with the little story above.

I have been wearing Z-CoiL® [footwear] now for something like two years and find they hold up very well - I haven't even had to replace the heels, which I hear is unusual. Even more, I am finding that when I am not wearing Z-CoiL® [footwear], my back and foot problems are much less severe. While I wouldn't say the Z-CoiL® [shoes] are healing these problems, I do feel that the rest and support they give do help in the healing process.

Bill F. Jones
Orange, CA

Feet First: Puget Sound Pedestrian Advocacy & Your2Feet Team Up For April Walk

In April, join together with Your 2 Feet and Feet First for a celebration of Foot Health Month and Seattle Award to the Top Ten Walking Cities in America. We will be meeting at the 1201 Pine St. Your 2 Feet location.

Points of interest to be seen on our walk of Capitol Hill are the
Jimmy Hendrix statue, the historical buildings,etc?? (to be determined)

Feet First's mission
To promote the rights and interests of pedestrians
and to encourage people to enjoy the pleasures of walking.

Feet First is working to make communities in the Puget Sound region better places to live. Making a community walkable is central to making it a good home. We provide an educated voice on pedestrian issues. We offer community maps, technical assistance, fun events, and we serve as policy champions.

Feet First is the region's leading non-profit organization promoting
walkable communities. Their advocacy efforts are frequently cited in the Seattle Times and Post-Intelligencer. They are in the city and statewide to make communities safer and better for walking.

Resource

A Thank You to Drivers from Feet First (PDF)

komo news | HealthWatch : Seattle Ranks No. 3 On List Of Top Walking Cities

komo news | HealthWatch : Seattle Ranks No. 3 On List Of Top Walking Cities: "SEATTLE - Head outside these days and you're bound to find at least one person out for a good walk. So many people in Seattle walk for exercise, that we earned a top spot on the American Podiatric Medical Association's list of top walking cities.

'This is the best walking city I think on the face of this Earth,' said walker Karen Meyers. 'Why? Because we've got so many places to walk. Look at Green Lake, it's a walker's paradise.'
It is -- whether you've got two or four legs; even webbed feet. The object is to just keep moving.

Seattle strides in at number three, on this year's list of top 10 best walking cities. We finished just behind Arlington, Va., and San Francisco. "

Click Title To Read More

ACFAS: 60-Second Checkup Radio Program

The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) is a professional society of 5,800 podiatric foot and ankle surgeons. Founded in 1942, ACFAS' goals are to promote the art and science of podiatric surgery, address the issues and concerns of the podiatric surgeon, and advance and improve standards of education and surgical skill. (more)

As part of its public education campaign, ACFAS-sponsors weekly "60-Second Checkup" radio releases, distributed to over 10,600 radio stations nationwide. The radio releases educate the public about various foot and ankle conditions and provide tips for maintaining healthy feet for an active life.

• May 10, 2004 - Keeping Feet Pain-Free Throughout Your Life (MP3)

Testimonial: Jodi Butzerin

I had very painful heels and very bad callous before I started wearing the Z-CoiLs. I first saw the Z-CoiLs at the Puyallup Fair in September 2004. I tried on a pair of Z-CoiL shoes and I walked out with my first pair. I will never wear regular tennis shoes again. The Z-CoiLs will be the only shoes I wear. I have gotten so much relief from the spring in my step. I now have a new pair of feet, and my callous are so much better, too.

I am a nurse and a full-time mom of 2 children ages 7-9. I stand on my feet everyday with long hours. When I would work as a nurse, my shoes were on for about 3-4 hours and then I would walk around in my socks because my feet would hurt and ache. When I went home, they were aching/burning and I just wanted to cut my feet off and sew a new pair of feet back on. I now can work an 8 and-a-half shift without taking my shoes off. I rarely get a half hour break. So, I stand on my feet for at least 8 and-a-half hours straight. I now have new feet thanks to my Z-CoiL shoes.

Thank you so much,

Jodi Butzerin
Federal Way, WA

Press Release: Put A Spring In Your Step At The Northwest Women's Show

Come Feel What Z-CoiL® Pain Relief Footwear Can Do 4 U

SEATTLE, WA (March 9, 2004) - Dr. Lotchie Kerch, a Seattle podiatric physician and foot surgeon, and her Your2Feet retail store staff will be exhibiting at the 17th annual Northwest Women's Show (March 18 – 20) in the Women & Health Section (Booth #817) at QWEST Events Center in Seattle.

The show offers attendees the opportunity to shop at over 650 booths featuring local businesses and services as well as attend daily seminars conducted by celebrity speakers and local experts focusing on women. Show hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

Dr. Kerch will be conducting daily seminars on the Be Well Stage entitled,

Limp in, Leap Out - The Female Foot from Eve to Gucci: 10 Tips 2 Keep U Walking

4:00pm Friday
11am Saturday
3:30pm Sunday

"Z-CoiL pain relief footwear is changing the way I am practicing medicine." Dr. Kerch said during her presentation last year at the Seattle Spring Northwest Women's Conference.

"Impact can now be reduced by 50 percent or more when using the Z-CoiL footwear. This impact reduction dramatically relieves pain in such conditions as plantar fasciitis (heel spars) and arthritis," she explained during her talk. "I have been a practicing podiatrist for over twenty years and I have never seen anything as effective in footwear. I'm seeing people who have been living with intolerable pain relieved by this phenomenal technology."

James Hendricks from Sumner, Washington, says that his Z-CoiLs work for him on the job: "I work at a major hardware warehouse and after only two weeks couldn't work more than four-hour shifts due to foot pain. I went to doctors … with no results. Then I heard about your shoes. I bought a pair and wore them for four working days. To my amazement, the pain was gone. I'm now working 40 hours a week and loving every minute!"

Z-CoiLs, often referred to as "the funny-looking shoes with the spring in the heel," are dramatically changing the lives of people across the country that once suffered from chronic, debilitating pain in their feet, legs and back. Many of the happiest Z-CoiL customers are workers in retail stores, restaurants, fairs, trade shows, hospitals and warehouses, who must spend hours every day on their feet, often on concrete floors.

For more information on Dr. Kerch and Z-CoiL pain relief footwear, visit the Your2Feet web site.

Dr. Kerch gives the thumbs up to an attendee at the Puyallup Fair who stood up and said, "I can't believe it. My pain is completely gone!"

See photos and listen to interviews direct from the Northwest Women's Show Your2Feet Booth #817 on this blog.

Testimonial - Dr. Sam Herbert

Testimonial - Dr. Sam Herbert:


"Shown above is Dr. Sam Herbert, a psychologist, sporting a pair of High Desert Hikers. Sam came to us over 18 months ago with severe ankle issues and plantar fasciitis. To top things off, he had a size 15, which we did not offer. His ankle was swollen tremendously when he first visited the store.

'Two Podiatrists informed me that I would require surgery and have pain for approximately one year,' says Sam. 'My right ankle/foot was so damaged because of an old injury, it was described by the Podiatrist as 'non-existent'. Also, I have plantar fasciitis.

'The doctor advised me the only solution was footwear (other than surgery.) I discovered Z-CoiL's and within one week was pain-free even when exercising! To date, I own 7 pairs of Z-CoiL's and will not wear another brand of shoes. My wife commented, 'You walk without pain!''

What Sam did not mention was that he was not our easiest fit... In fact, it took many, many months of adjustments and some special orthotics before he was able to wear the Z-CoiL's comfortably. Each pair has to be stretched to a size 15 and our orthotic needs to be widened to work in conjunction with his orthotic. Sam, though, was extremely patient, because he could see the potential of Z-CoiL's and what they could do for him... and for him, it has been a life-changing experience being able to function normally each day and not having to undergo a surgery that had no guarantees.

Sam now is a regular fixture around our store, helping to fit people when we get busy, putting away shoes, and assisting us in our efforts to get the word out to people in pain! We learned a lot from Sam's situation that we have been able to use to help other customers with similar problems. Thanks Sam!

Till later,

Caesar Snee
EZ-Shoes
San Jose, CA

-----------

Note: Yesterday, I called EZ-Shoes. Sam answered the phone. He said that there are two styles he can not wear due to his foot: the sandle and clog. It took over a year before the Z-CoiLs were finially adjusted to fit his foot. Before wearing Z-CoiLs, his feet began hurting after walking only two blocks. Now, he is walking pain free everywhere. Give Sam a call. He will talk your ear off about his Z-experience. (408) 558-9596

Northwest Women's Show Flyer

March 18-20
Northwest Women's Show
QWEST Field Event Center, Seattle

Hours
10:00a.m. - 6:00p.m. Friday, Saturday & Sunday

Your2Feet Booth 817 (Floor Plan)



Be Well Stage

Limp in, Leap Out
The Female Foot from Eve to Gucci
10 Tips 2 Keep U Walking

• 4:00pm Friday
• 11am Saturday
• 3:30pm Sunday
  

2005 Winter Conference at Seatac Marriott Seattle podiatrist Dr. Kerch meets with area chiropractors. Got sore feet? Get Z's!