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One disadvantage to being a biped is the tremendous weight and shock on the two small body parts – our feet - responsible for supporting the whole bulk of our weight. Our knees, hips, backs and necks suffer too. While our feet are incredibly efficient considering their use and abuse, why not give them a "leg up"? Enter Z-Coil.
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"The first thing I noticed was that my body kept bracing for impact that
didn't come!"
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According to Z-Coil, in the 18th century the world started to make separate shoes for left and right feet, much to the chagrin of confused preschoolers. What seems an obvious necessity now was innovative then. In the mid-1980's, Al Gallegos, founder, chairman and inventor of Z-Coils, had an idea for a running shoe that makes as much sense as constructing a right shoe and a left shoe.
A runner, Gallegos suffered from the pain of common running hazards: heel spurs, plantar fasciitis and knee and back problems. Once while running his seven daily miles, he conceived of a way to drastically reduce the shock of repeated impact: insert a conical spring into the heel of a running shoe. After some experimentation with different springs, the result is the patented design behind Z-Coils.
When a colleague visited my office wearing a pair of Z-Coils, my initial reaction was that of most people: "What's with the springy shoes?" As a back pain sufferer who's quick to extol the virtues of my rebounder, I was immediately curious. "Is it like bouncing on a rebounder all day?" I asked. "Are they just for people with pain?"
Since that afternoon, I have discovered that Z-Coils are by no means exclusively for people with injuries or chronic pain. There are mail carriers, nurses, delivery persons, and legions of other folks who stand or walk for hours each day who will defend their Z-Coils to the death. Many will wear no other shoes but Z-Coils, on and off of the job. And the company doesn’t just make athletic shoes for hikers, runners and would-be slam-dunkers: sandals, work boots and clogs carry the Z-Coil name and patented technology. The shoes are also gaining popularity with vacationers who plan long sightseeing trips.
The entire shoe (regardless of the variety of styles) is a technological feat. Z-Coils have four times the cushioning of standard running shoes. The front has extra cushioning to reduce the pressure on the ball of the foot. They offer incredible support, and when fitted properly, they keep the foot from bending or twisting anywhere but at the ball.
Why such extensive support of the foot? According to Z-Coil, "the plantar ligaments in your foot are prone to stretching and irritation when your arch is left unsupported." These are common causes of heel spurs and plantar fasciitis. Z-Coils were designed to make the foot more stable and thus less prone to injury.
 When you stand, the springs are almost completely collapsed. When you walk, the springs move with the regular rhythm of your gait. The real difference is in the way your body feels. The springs can be altered to give you the greatest support where (on your foot) you place the most weight. The shoes come with their spring adjusted for the average person, who tends to lean a bit to the outside of the foot.
While they are forbidden in many athletic competitions because they give the athlete certain advantages, people wearing Z-Coils walk normally. If my colleague hadn't sat down and re-tied his shoelaces, I never would have noticed the Z-Coils, and this article would never have been written. If you want to conceal the springs, you can purchase heel covers so they are your own little secret.
Frankly, I like it when people come up to me and say, "Those are some cool shoes!" This is the first time they're saying it about shoes that don't have heels high enough to make my nose bleed.
I visited a Z-Coil distributor in Redding, California; a locally owned shop called "Springz", and walked out in my new snowy-white Freedom 2000 athletic shoes. I was warned to wear them for no more than a few hours at first, as some people find they are using their muscles a little differently and suffer a little bit of that post-workout stiffness the next day.
I was also instructed how to care for my Z-Coils, and to watch for any change in the spring. The wonderful thing is that if there ever is a problem with my shoes, the springs can easily be repaired! Having tossed many a worn-out pair of expensive sneakers during my lifetime, this sounded like a very practical idea.
The first thing I noticed was that my body kept bracing for impact that didn't come. I walked normally, but there was no great feeling of compression in the cartilage in my knees, and my hips and back were more relaxed. A friend who was with me was intrigued. We walked all over town for the city's holiday festival, and I felt fabulous! The faster I walked, the more I realized the immediate benefits of low-impact walking on my joints and leg bones. My friend bumped into a couple she knew, and of course she pointed out my shoes.
"Look, they have springs!"
"I know," said her friend's husband, pointing to his black sneakers with the heel covers. "I'm wearing mine, too. I never wear any other shoe."
After a week of walking in my Z-Coils my back, hips and knees feel great. I never had any of the stiff muscles from wearing them too long. They are fun to show off and, amazingly, they are still snowy-white. A word to the wise: Be careful going up and down stairs. Descend as if you were wearing shoes with a very high heel and hold on to a railing, at least until you get used to the new fit.
My verdict? I adore my Z-Coils! I'd wear bouncy hot pink stilettos if they'd made them. Think about it - the height and legs of a Rockette, and the stretch and spring so I would feel great at the end of the day. How about it, Z-Coil?
You can find a list of Z-Coil merchants, a list of styles, and contact information at the Z-Coil web site at:
www.zcoil.com.
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