Total Relief Footwear: Testimonial: Peggy Wright

I would like to thank the inventor of Z-Coils and the staff at Total Relief Footwear for helping me get back on my feet again. I have suffered pain since an injury to my low back in the '50's. Since then I have had sporadic episodes of pain from my sciatic nerve, sometimes calling for bed rest.

Later on I found out that I have one disk that is fused and now I have degenerating disks. I have tried everything that has been offered for this condition and nothing has helped.

In March 2004 I learned that I had a ruptured disk in my low back. In April 2004 I had a diskectomy and the surgery failed. All X-Rays and tests show that I now have a ruptured disk (same one) along with an extruding disk. The pain I feel shoots downward from my sciatic nerve, through my hips and down the front of my legs, sometimes feeling like an electrical shock. I also have arthritis in both knees and plantar fasciitis.

I have gone to Pain Management, getting injections into the nerve root and getting massages trying to ease the excruciating pain I experience. The massage therapist recommended that I get out of street shoes and asked me to try Z-Coils. After thinking about it for a couple of weeks and my pain not subsiding, I decided to visit Total Relief Footwear and give them a try. I was in a lot of pain that day and was ready to try anything to get some relief. I tried on the Taos clogs and felt immediate relief in my lower back. The store owner, Cam, was very kind and patient and spent a lot of time with me to explain how the shoes work then he adjusted the shoes to conform to the shape of my feet, and they felt even better.

After wearing them for 5 days the level of my pain has dropped significantly, therefore the need for pain pills has decreased. One of the great things I have discovered is that I can stand up straight after being bent over for months! It is a wonderful feeling to be active again without being controlled by pain.

Peggy Wright
Austin, TX

Sof Sole: Plantar Fasciitis - Doctors Corner ; Blog

Plantar Fasciitis - Doctors Corner :

"PROBLEM: Plantar Fasciitis also known as heel pain is the name given to a strain, pull or partial tear of the Plantar Fascia.

CAUSE: Overuse injuries"



Plantar Fasciitis is the name given to a strain, pull or partial tear of the plantar fascia. The Plantar Fascia is a tough, slightly elastic ligament that runs along the arch of the foot from the front of the heel to the base of the toes. As with other overuse injuries, the plantar fascia becomes injured when excessive forces are applied and/or the structure is inadequately prepared for those forces. The excessive forces usually involve some form of training error and/or biomechanical fault. Preparation for those forces, such as thorough warm-up followed by Achilles and Fascial stretching while wearing stable, well-constructed sport-specific athletic shoes, often is proven to be inadequate in retrospective analysis.
(more)



Free Socks with purchase! What a great idea...

Sof Sole Blog

The Sof Sole blog is a discussion forum where athletes can post their race stories, product testimonials, questions to the rest of the team and advice for staying active. Visitors to the site will be able to read the team's postings and post their own comments to the site.

"We set up the blog to enable our elite athletes to further interact with each other, as well as other runners, and to develop an increased team relationship," said Jennifer Cory, Sof Sole Art Director and Internet Coordinator. "We are constantly trying to expand on our Elite Team experience through the running section of our website." (more)

Arthritis Foundation Washington/Alaska Chapter: Thousands Expected to Team Up for Coast-to-Coast Arthritis Walks

ATLANTA, April 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Thousands of people across the country will team up with friends, family members and co-workers to help raise awareness and funds to fight arthritis, a chronic and often debilitating condition. With the rate of arthritis among Americans increasing dramatically, the disease is now the nation's leading cause of disability.

Arthritis and chronic joint symptoms affect 66 million adults and 300,000 children, and cost the U.S. $86.2 billion annually.

Arthritis strikes people of all ages, including children. It affects the way people live, the things they enjoy and their emotional and social interactions with family and friends. For the one in three Americans with arthritis, the pain and inflammation associated with this chronic condition can limit everyday activities such as walking, dressing and even bathing.

"The Arthritis Foundation is here to help people with arthritis take a more active role in managing their disease. Participating in the Arthritis Walk can be a first step toward the kind of healthy lifestyle that may help prevent or control arthritis," said John H. Klippel, M.D., president and CEO of the Arthritis Foundation. "Walking can reduce joint pain and stiffness, build muscles around the joints and increase flexibility and endurance." (more)

Comfortable shoes put a spring in her arthritic - and formerly painful - steps - 07/07/04

Cathy Zinser walks miles every day. For 25 years she’s worked at Mount Clemens General Hospital as a Central Services assistant delivering medical equipment and supplies from one end of the building to the other.

No surprise that at age 55 she often ends up with sore feet and aching legs. “I get in a lot of pain,” Zinser says. “I have scleroderma (a chronic autoimmune disease) in my right leg and six slightly ruptured discs that are fully arthritic.”

That sent Cathy Zinser in search of a comfortable shoe that would help relieve her constant pain. What she found aren’t the most attractive shoes in the world, but she says they’re the most comfortable. “They’ve almost eliminated the pain,” Zinser says. “Some days I’m not even in pain.”

The shoes are called Z-Coil (www.zcoil.com). They’re shoes on a spring. (Think Tigger. Boing ... boing ... boing.) A large coil under each heel decreases the impact of each step. They aren’t cheap; they start around $139. And be warned: They come with stares and glares. These are the kind of shoes that start conversations. But Zinser doesn’t mind the looks. She relishes the comfort. “My feet always throbbed and hurt at the end of the day, and they don’t any more,” she says. (more)


By Lila Lazurus
Special to The Detroit News
Wednesday, July 7, 2004

Testimonial - Elizabeth Ortega and Belena Orillaneda

Elizabeth Ortega and Belena Orillaneda made it to EZ-Shoes (San Jose, CA) in October of 2004. Elizabeth is a sales associate who spends hours on her feet on concrete floors, resulting in severe heel pain, pain on the arches and also pain in the balls of the feet.

"I was experiencing pain on both feet," says Elizabeth. "I had spent hundreds of dollars on all types of shoes including Easy Spirit, Bass, Naturalizer, etc. Nothing worked. I just couldn't be on my feet for over 2 hours.

"Then one day, my friend told me about Z-CoiL shoes. I didn't believe her, but two weeks after my purchase, my foot pain was gone. I couldn't believe it... no more limping! I didn't have to limp anymore. I then was able to start exercising again on the treadmill. My friends were happy that once again I could join in on outings to malls, outlets, hiking, etc!

"I got my life back because of Z-CoiL's. I won't wear anything else. I am always recommending these shoes to people, especially those that work on concrete floors."

Belena is a driver for a local company and has to stand and walk for hours during the day, which also caused heel pain.

"I have to stand for 8 hours and walk on pavement. I had so much at my foot at the end of the day. One day, a customer came in and was wearing Z-CoiL shoes. I asked her about the shoes and where she got them. After buying all those shoes and inserts, I was willing to try anything!

"I bought a pair and after a week of wearing Z-CoiL shoes, the pain was gone. After a month, it was as if that pain story was a dream. Since then, I have been wearing my Z-CoiL shoes."

Both ladies came into the store today to purchase yet another pair of Z-CoiL's to add to their wardrobe!

Till later,
Caesar Snee
EZ-Shoes
San Jose, CA

VISTA MAGAZINE MIXING BUSINESS (2001) Spring suspension Orthotic Shoes for Pain Relief

History Z-Coil Shoes- Spring suspension Orthotic Shoes for Pain Relief

Alvaro Gallegos is up and running before the sun rises in Santa Fe. He is a dynamo who raised eight children single-handedly after his wife died, a former fighter pilot, a businessman who has owned restaurants and department stores, dabbling in real estate along the way.

Now at 65, he is an inventor whose unusual Z-Coil Recoil running shoes are found on the feet of New Mexico's governor, marathon runners and people with bad backs and knees.

One look at his bright yellow, electric blue, orange and white shoes will probably make you laugh, or at least chuckle. Heavy-duty metal springs sit where the heel should be, giving the impression one is riding on shock absorbers. In fact, that is exactly the idea. The Recoil shoe is meant to lessen the impact every time a runner's foot slams into the ground with the force of three to three-and-a -half times his or her body weight. That pounding and its effect on the heels, knees and back were what got Gallegos thinking. Always an athletic type, he took up running just as he was about to turn 40. Pleasure soon turned into competitiveness.

But after 20 years of nearly daily six-mile runs, his body began to talk back, sometimes in a nasty tone. "I thought to myself, "There should be a shoe around somewhere to kill all that impact" I thought, "Wouldn't it be neat if I had a spring in my shoe that would propel me forward and once I got up to speed I could just keep going and going."

But it was a brother's challenge that really got him going. As his brothers bragged about their Nikes and Reeboks, Gallegos shot back that he could make a better shoe. "My brother said, "if you're so smart, why don't you do it?" Every time I ran I could hear his voice."

Finding someone to make the special springs took almost a year. Then he spent $1,000 for 300 springs, betting he could come up with a workable shoe. The neighborhood butcher was his first spring manufacturer, Gallegos quips. He used band and crosscut saws to slice through running -shoes soles so the springs could be attached. Soon
Gallegos had his own band saw, cutting soles and inserting springs to create by hand more that 100 pairs of prototypes.

Now he has a Korean manufacturer who also distributes the shoes throughout Southeast Asia. His advertising is primarily by word of mouth and the stare of strangers."

Get Square with Your Feet

Feet are the whipping boys of the body. With every mile we walk, 200,000 to 300,000 pounds of stress bears down on our tootsies, and by the time we’re 50, most of us have walked 75,000 miles. That’s a lot of action for two narrow islands of 26 bones and more than 30 joints. And yet despite the central role feet play in our lives, most of us ignore them.

Experts say orthopaedic disorders, including foot problems, are a leading cause of inactivity and disability in the United States. “Feet degenerate like tires on cars,” says Washington, D.C.-based podiatrist Arnold Ravick, a spokesperson for the American Podiatric Association. “Just like the rest of our body, our feet spread out, muscles weaken and skin thins.” (more)

by Dorothy Foltz-Gray
Arthritis Today

13-year-old to lead arthritis walk

"A 13-year-old from Washington, D.C., who has taken more than 30,000 pills and 250 injections to treat her juvenile rheumatoid is slated to lead the local Arthritis Walk on May 14 in Portage.

Emily Smith, who was diagnosed at age 2, is a leading advocate for children who get arthritis. She picked the Portage walk from among 286 nationwide, according to the Arthritis Foundation.

"I want people to know that kids can get arthritis, too, and that we need all the funding for research we can get," Smith said in a foundation news release.

Also scheduled to walk are Craig and Kathy Nelson and their daughter Kaylynn, 5, of Otsego, and Cheryl White and her daughter Chelsey, 15, of Richland. Kaylynn and Chelsey have juvenile arthritis." (more)

Z-coil Shoe Sale

Z-coil Shoe Sale: "Z-coils are the fastest-growing pain relief footwear in the world. Knowledgeable personnel will be on hand to assist you from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, April 22, and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 23 in the main lobby of Payson Regional Medical Center (Payson, Arizona).

A large selection of Z-Coil shoes will be offered for your shopping pleasure.

Studies have shown that Z-Coil wearers have less back, foot, leg and joint pain, and they also have more energy. Sounds simple, but these amazing shoes really work.

All proceeds from the sale will go to support the many programs and scholarships offered by the Mogollon Health Alliance Auxiliary.
For more information, call MHA at (928) 472-2588. "

Grab your shoes and pick among many events

Here's a list of spring charity walks scheduled through the end of May. Walks begin at times listed; registration begins 30 minutes to one hour earlier.

April 30



Walk America (March of Dimes) -- 9:30 a.m., Rosa Parks Circle, Monroe Center NW, Grand Rapids, 4 1/2 miles. Call (800) BIG-WALK or online: walkamerica.org.



Watch Video: Windows: High Low

May 1



Great Strides (Cystic Fibrosis Foundation) -- 2 p.m., Chinook Pier Farmers' Market, Grand Haven, 10 miles. Call 241-2100 or online: cff.org/greatstrides.

Find a Walk in Your City


May 7

Arthritis Walk -- 9 a.m., Lakeside Elementary School, 2325 Hall St. SE, East Grand Rapids, 1 mile or 3 miles. Call 949-9938 or online: arthritis.org.


Blow the Whistle on Asthma Walk (American Lung Association) -- 9 a.m., Millennium Park, 1 1/2 miles. Call (800) 386-4872 or online: asthmawalk.org.

GRACE Hunger Walk -- 8:30 a.m., Grand Rapids Center for Ecumenicism, 207 E. Fulton, 5 miles or 12 miles. Call 774-2042, ext. 112.

Great Strides (Cystic Fibrosis Foundation) -- noon, Kollen Park, Holland, 10 miles. Call 241-2100 or online: cff.org/greatstrides.

Walk America (March of Dimes) -- 8:30 a.m. Veteran's Memorial Park, Fremont, 7 miles; Fish Hatchery Park, Hastings, 5 miles; 9:30 a.m., Ionia Theatre, Ionia, 5 miles. Call (800) BIG-WALK or online: walkamerica.org.


May 14

Great Strides (Cystic Fibrosis Foundation) -- 10 a.m., Fifth Third Ball Park, 5 miles or 10 miles. Call 241-2100 or online: cff.org/greatstrides.


May 20


Relay for Life (American Cancer Society) -- 24-hour team relay, 1 p.m. at Lamar Park, 2561 Porter St. SW, Wyoming; 3 p.m. at North Middle School, 397 E. Division St., Rockford. Call 364-6121 or online: http://www.cancer.org.

Testimonial: Jim and Rita Danklefs

For the past several years, I have been suffering from back pain due to degenerative discs and bone spurs. I have also experienced pain from heel spurs, flat feet and a fractured metatarsal bone in my right foot. It was rare for me to wake up in the morning when my feet didn’t hurt.

I have spent money on custom orthotic shoe inserts and the best shoes I could find (Eccos (Photo), valued at $200) in my search for pain relief. None of these options provided much relief. My wife, Rita was also experiencing sore and sometimes stabbing hip pain that made walking very painful after being on her feet for a while.


We were totally blown away with our experience at Total Relief Footwear. As soon as I tried on Z-CoiLs, my pain decreased significantly. Vince, the store manager spent well over an hour making sure the shoes fit me properly. Rita received the same level of attention. It was amazing to experience the level of personal attention that we both received. The staff was completely focused on our needs, instead of “pushing” a pair of shoes on us.

I tell everyone about Z-CoiL® shoes and our experience at Total Relief Footwear. In fact, I carry more of their business cards than my own! My daily pain has substantially decreased, and Rita’s hip pain disappears when she wears her shoes. Thanks for a great product backed by great service.

Jim and Rita Danklefs
Austin, TX

Press Release: Gear up for National Arthritis Month by Helping Relieve Pain in a Unique Way

Revolutionary Z-CoiL® Footwear is One Method to Help Arthritis Sufferers


Bellevue, WA -- The Arthritis Foundation designates May as National Arthritis Month and during the month Americans nationwide participate in Arthritis walks to raise awareness and research money. According to the Arthritis Foundation, “Arthritis is one of the most prevalent chronic health problems and the nation’s leading cause of disability among Americans over age 15 and is second only to heart disease as a cause of work disability.”

For the millions in this country who suffer from arthritis and the associated pain there may be a much simpler solution than prescription medication to help ease pain and it comes in the form of proper footwear. New Mexican, Al Gallegos, who knows the pain of arthritis and sports related injuries, is providing extraordinary pain relief to thousands through his Z-CoiL® Pain Relief Footwear.

These “funny-looking shoes with the steel spring in the heel” have dramatically changed lives for many people, young and old, who report either complete relief or a significant reduction in pain when wearing their Z-CoiL® shoes.

“As recently as 11 months ago, I was having severe problems with arthritis in both knees—so much so that I could barely get through a day at work. I work in retail, which requires being on my feet all day,” says Alex Tate. “I was also about forty pounds overweight, which my doctor advised was adding more to my problems. With all that pain, it was hard to exercise and thus all the more difficult to lose weight.”

Since purchasing his first pair of Z-CoiL® footwear Alex says, “Since the end of August, I have lost 59 pounds. I had some help with a change in diet, but mostly increasing my exercise has been the key. Now I even lightly jog for a part of my walking time five to six days per week. I’m healthier now than I was in my 20s and the arthritis is a non-issue.”

Alex’s story may seem remarkable but other arthritis sufferers are experiencing the same results from this unique footwear.

Osteoarthritis sufferer Denise Berger, has lived with pain for more than 25 years since being diagnosed in her early 30s. “This progressed to degenerative disc disease and resulted in my having five cervical discs fused and plated,” she says. “I had two consecutive operations on lumbar discs 4 and 5 with S1 also being fused and plated.

“I am an RN and work in a cancer research hospital and at times I am on my feet for at least 8-10 hours straight,” Denise adds. “My heels were hurting because I am a heavy “heel walker” and it was also putting undo pressure on my spine. I wore tennis shoes; I have literally tried every shoe on the market, but none made my feet happy.”

Denise was excited to find Z-CoiL® footwear because it has helped her in many ways.

“My feet were so happy at work, it seemed a shame to wear other shoes when I wasn’t working,” she says. “Because of the degenerative disc disease of my spine, I lost approximately ½" in height and I have been praying for height all my life. It's funny that it took 56 years to do it. I can't thank Z-CoiL enough for bringing the “spring” back in my step and happiness back into my life. If my feet are happy, then I am too.” (more)

eBay item 5384014272 (Ends Apr-25-05 18:33:50 PDT) - AuThEnIc Z-COIL SHOES,WHITE LEATHER, WOMENS SZ.9 WIDE!!

eBay item 5384014272 (Ends Apr-25-05 18:33:50 PDT) - AuThEnIc Z-COIL SHOES,WHITE LEATHER, WOMENS SZ.9 WIDE!!: "THIS IS AN AUCTION FOR A GREAT PAIR OF THE HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER AND TALKED ABOUT Z-COIL SHOES, WHITE LEATHER GENTLY USED CONDITION IN A WOMENS SIZE 9 WIDE!!!


THEY HAVE NEW SEXY PINK LACES!!!

CHECK OUT THE PICS!!! FEEL FREE TO ASK ANY AND ALL ???

MY DAUGHTER BOUGHT THESE AND HAS DECIDED THEY ARE TOO UGLY...SHE'D RATHER HER FEET HURT AND BE 'IN STYLE' THAN WEAR THESE...OH WELL, KIDS ARE KIDS!!!

SHE WILL LEARN SOME DAY!!!

THEY DID MAKE HER LEGS AND BACK FEEL BETTER AND SHE IS A PLUS SIZED WEEKEND PR NURSE!!!"

Current bid: US $102.50
Style: Athletic-Inspired
US Size: 9
Heel Height: Med (1 3/4'' to 2 3/4'')
Main Color: White
Condition: GENTLY USED

Press Release: A Simple Footwear Concept is Changing Lives for Thousands of People in Pain

Z-CoiL® Pain Relief Footwear Helps Reduce Pain in Hips, Legs, Knees, and Feet

Stafford, VA – “I suffer with a disability known as ‘dropped foot.’ 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,” says Stafford resident Susan Rogers.

“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,” Susan adds. “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.”

Dropped foot can be caused by a number of conditions; however the results for many people are the same … chronic pain. Thousands of people suffer from this condition as well as many other foot, leg, hip and knee problems that cause daily pain.

For Susan, the relief didn’t come until she found Z-CoiL® Pain Relief Footwear™, which helped improve her mobility and stability on her left side. Before that, she had tried shoe after shoe with no luck.

“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,” Susan says. “The shoes would last two months at the most. I also own every gel and cushion insole out there.” (more)



Doctor's Response To Dropped Foot:

When the motor nerve (anterior tibial nerve) that innervates the muscles that pull the foot toward the knee is injured or diseased, the result is complete weakness of those muscles (paralysis of the pretibial and peroneal muscles). The weakness causes the foot to essentially be limp and the weak foot involuntarily flops away from the body to cause what is referred to as a "foot drop." Sometimes this flopping of the foot causes excessive wear of the front and side of the sole of the shoe. (more)

The Arthritis Walk 2005

The Arthritis WalkSM is the Arthritis Foundation’s annual nationwide event that raises awareness and funds to fight arthritis, the nation’s leading cause of disability. It is a tremendous opportunity to impact the lives of 70 million men, women and children with arthritis or chronic joint symptoms. Get your company involved or recruit friends and family members to form a team. Best of all, walk in honor of a loved one with arthritis and know you’re making a difference by raising funds to support Arthritis Foundation research, public health and public policy efforts to improve the lives of people with arthritis.

The Arthritis WalkSM takes place from coast coast each May, kicking off National Arthritis Month. Choose from a 5K or 1-mile course. Men, women and children with arthritis will lead the way wearing special blue "hero" caps to show that they are taking control of their arthritis. And during the Walk you'll have an opportunity to write an inspirational message on the Wall of Heroes.

Click for the dates and locations for the 2005 US events.

Watch Arthritis Walk Video

Testimonial: Amy Lucus

Goody2shoez Waco, TX:

"Two and a half years ago I was injured during an assault at my school restraining a student. I had a prior fusion at the L4-5 in 1998 due to a similar incident. After a year of recovery, I felt that my life was back. After the second incident, my left lumbar area was sprained and I was basically back in the same boat as before. The despair was overwhelming and I have tried to seek every kind of help imaginable to get better. I've either been told it's hopeless, given heavy medication, and shuffled from one doctor to another, but mainly I've been told that it will only worsen. It left me listing terribly and it looked like I had a leg length discrepancy. This was due to the severe spasms in my back and over the last 2 1/2 years additional degenerative damage has occurred.

Six days ago, I left a neurosurgeon's office where I had been referred and once again was coldly and flippantly told there was nothing except pain management and medications that would be of any good and that indeed my condition, which now included degenerative discs, would worsen.

My life prior to this was active. Now it is all I can do to go to work and make it home. When I left that office, I broke down and sat in my car crying trying to think of a reason to live. That's how desperate I had become. This past Saturday I went to the Crazy Coil store in nearby Houston and bought a pair of your miracles.

When I put them on, my body became perfectly symmetrical for the first time since the assault. Even the clerk was amazed. I had just started a new PT program and no one I have talked to had heard of your shoes. Coupled with the PT I now know that I can look forward to living and not dying, as I have for so long. Had it not been for my mother seeing a small ad in the Tyler paper and telling me about them,

My life prior to this was active. Now it is all I can do to go to work and make it home. When I left that office I broke down and sat in my car crying trying to think of a reason to live. That's how desperate I had become. This past Saturday I went to the Crazy Coil store in nearby Houston and bought a pair of your miracles. When I put them on my body became perfectly symmetrical for the first time since the assault. Even the clerk was amazed. I had just started a new PT program and no one I have talked to had heard of your shoes. Coupled with the PT I now know that I can look forward to living and not dying, as I have for so long. Had it not been for my mother seeing a small ad in the Tyler paper and telling me about them, I honestly don't know if I would be here today.

Your product literally has saved my life and I'm spreading the news about them at every opportunity.

With deep gratitude,

Amy Lucus
Baytown, TX


Goody2ShoeZ Photo Gallery: Z-CoiLs Around Town

JOHANNS REVEALS USDA’S STEPS TO A HEALTHIER YOU

MyPyramid.gov - United States Department of Agriculture - News & Media: Press Release:
"Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today unveiled MyPyramid, a new symbol and interactive food guidance system. “Steps to a Healthier You,” MyPyramid’s central message, supports President Bush’s HealthierUS initiative which is designed to help Americans live longer, better and healthier lives. MyPyramid, which replaces the Food Guide Pyramid introduced in 1992, is part of an overall food guidance system that emphasizes the need for a more individualized approach to improving diet and lifestyle.


“MyPyramid is about the ability of Americans to personalize their approach when choosing a healthier lifestyle that balances nutrition and exercise,” said Johanns. “Many Americans can dramatically improve their overall health by making modest improvements to their diets and by incorporating regular physical activity into their daily lives.”

MyPyramid incorporates recommendations from the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which was released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in January. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans provide authoritative advice for people two years of age and older about how proper dietary habits can promote health and reduce the risk of major chronic diseases. MyPyramid was developed to carry the messages of the dietary guidelines and to make Americans aware of the vital health benefits of simple and modest improvements in nutrition, physical activity and lifestyle behavior.

• Press Release
• Backgrounder
• Questions & Answers
• Anatomy of MyPyramid
• MyPyramid Food Intake Patterns
• MyPyramid Animation
• MyPyramid Tracker Release
• Graphics Resources

NOTE: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has a better multimedia online presentation than most high tech companies.

Adidas 1 Review Excerpts: USA Today Article

Adidas 1 review - Engadget - www.engadget.com /


First off, these are quite possibly the ugliest shoes we’ve ever worn—no matter how fine they appear in the photos, know that they look far worse in person (we actually preferred the packaging to the shoes themselves).

It was hard to notice the effect just walking around, but when we started up on the treadmill we could definitely feel the shoes becoming more springy or cushioned. We’ll have to suck it up and perform another week or two of testing to see how the shoes hold up. We’d try and figure out how to crash the processor, but we’re not even sure how we’d be able to tell when we’d succeeded.

Reader Comments

9. Posted Mar 22, 2005, 3:32 PM ET by geekmorgan

I bought these shoes when they first went on sale this friday, mostly for the geek factor and for encouragement to get to the gym. you can feel the adjustments they make, and feel the vibration of the moving gears, but this gimmic is way more than anyone needs.

these are called adidas 1.0, so we'll have to wait until version 1.5 or 2.0 for USB or bluetooth.

overall, they're fun and flashy, most comfortable shoes i've had in recent memory. they're worth it for geek factor alone.

17. Posted Mar 22, 2005, 4:37 PM ET by ashu mathura

There is a nice free mobile video game available around the shoe and brand. More information about the game can be found here:

The free game can be download via WAP. Point you phone at wap.adidas1game.com

Have fun!

USA TODAY

Adidas puts computer on new footing
By Michael McCarthy, USA TODAY

NEW YORK — Hoping the new Adidas 1 will be to the sneaker industry what Apple's iPod has been to digital music, Adidas will put on sale March 18 what it bills as the world's first computerized "smart shoe." (more)

Indian Express
SPECIAL REPORT
$250 computerised running shoe to hit the market

• Adidas _1 Twenty Million Dollar Campaign (Watch TV Ad)

Testimonial: William B

Step N Out Pain Relief Footwear, Alexandria VA - Z-Coil footwear for foot, leg, and back pain relief.



I purchased a pair of Z-CoiL shoes to help with my Plantar Fasciitis. Anybody who suffers from this problem knows that if you are not careful it can come back. I am always having to protect my feet knowing that once they become inflamed, it takes a certain time of inactivity to get the inflammation to go away.

The Z-CoiLs are a welcome addition to my arsenal of tools to fight this perpetual problem. I have orthotics, walking tennis shoes and foam inserts. I use these various footwear devices to relieve the pain by rotating the shoes that I wear. I find that if I stand on a hard surface even with the orthotics, my feet will start to burn and pain starts.

I bought a pair of Z-CoiLs during a period when I was having pain that would not go away even wearing the orthotics. I wore the Z-CoiLs and they did help relieve the stress. They especially help when I have to walk a lot and also when I am standing in one place, because I am able to rotate the pressure points on my foot much better with the Z-CoiLs. I do not have to wear the orthotics with the Z-CoiLs. I do wear a foam insert.

When the pain subsides enough, I can switch back to my regular shoes with the Orthotics. When my feet are hurting with the Orthotics, I will switch to the Z-CoiLs and the pain will start to go away.'

William B.

Z-CoiL Hat

Carolyn Linzner, A Step Above Footwear Santa Rosa California, models the Z-CoiL hat (cap - one size fits all) with her arm around 18 year old Michelle Lambert, a local singer that performed at the stores Grand Opening celerbration. (September 2003)

NOTE: I find it odd that Z-CoiL sells logo hats and t-shirts but not shocks. Don't socks just go naturally with shoes? Don't you think the Albuquerque, NM eBay Z-CoiL seller below would peek the interest in more buyers by giving away a couple of pair of wicking Z-socks rather than a cap?

eBay - Today There Are 35 Z-CoiL Auctions

"i'm always looking for customer stories. can you tell me your z-story?"

i have had several knee operations. i work in a hospital on my feet for 8-10 hours a day. i have spent hundreds of dollars on nursing shoes, only to throw them away because they didn't help or feel good. these are the best thing i have ever come across. bought a pair for my boyfriend who suffers from siactica, he is sold on them now.

eBay Sale
Current bid: US $44.25
Item Specifics - Women's Shoes
Style: Clogs & Mules
US Size: 9
Heel Height: Med (1 3/4'' to 2 3/4'')
Main Color: White
Condition: very good
Time left: 5 days 4 hours
Ends Apr-24-05 10:59:11 PDT

These are the best working shoe available. I am sold on how good my legs feel at the end of a long day at the hospital. I bought these gently used from another ebayer. Unfortunately, they were too big for me. I wear an 81/2 to a 9. They are marked 9 but seem more like an 91/2 to 10 and are wide. I bought a pair of 9 on ebay and they fit fine. I know they do run a bit large. If you work in a hospital, like I do, you will love them.

eBay Sale
Starting bid: US $100.00
US Size: Men 10
Condition: New: In Box
Time left: 3 days 12 hours
Ends Apr-22-05 19:15:02 PDT

These are a pair of Z-CoiL's, Mens, Dress Zippered Clogs, Very Stylish (BLACK) A very NEW Style for Z-CoiL. These are Brand New in the Box. They may require some adjustments at a dealer. These are meant for someone with a low instep. These retail for about $189.95 in any of 200 Z-CoiLs dealers in the U.S. These are very comfortable, and have single zipper on each shoe. They reduce impact by over 50% with every step. These are a pain relief product. Excellent for FOOT, LEG, KNEE, HIP and BACK PAIN. To read more about the product, please go to www.zcoil.com

FREE MENS CAP WITH PURCHASE.

LOOK, for more Z-CoiL's in Men's Size 10 to follow, Thank You

National Stop Snoring Week 2005 (18th - 23rd April): Snoring Isn't Sexy

The Moderate Voice - Snoring Isn't Sexy: "A word to guys who snore: if you make with the 'zzzzzzzs' you are less likely to get the 'sexxxxx..'

In other words, if a night you can't be quiet, you may have to go on a love diet. This info comes from a new survey done in England. As the Telegraph elegantly puts it:

More than a quarter 'hardly ever' have sex and 60 per cent are regularly told to sleep in the spare room, says the report at the start of National Stop Snoring Week.

The British Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Association study confirms many widely-held assumptions and says the problem causes rows and can lead to divorce.

More than half of the couples questioned admitted that they had sexual intercourse less than once a month and said they would do so more often if the snoring stopped." (more)

This year the British Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Association launched an interactive blog .

Hopefully, more Associations will follow their lead and integrate blogs in the campaigns. Blogs are a cost effective, easily manageable publishing tool that is another tool that can be used to get their message out and provide an opportunity for their community to discuss personal experiences on an international level.

Hundreds Walk to Raise Tens of Thousands for MS

"SHARPSBURG, MD- Close to 700 people showed up to the Antietam National Battlefield for the 2005 MS Walk to support research for Multiple Sclerosis. Although walkers got a chance to enjoy a beautiful day outdoors, nice weather wasn`t the only thing on their minds -
'I`m walking in memory of my wife Kim who had MS for 22 years before she passed away last May,' said Wayne Bockstanz.

Bill Scrivener, diagnosed with MS in 1994, said, 'MS is an under-noted thing, people don`t realize how many people have MS.'

Debora Crampton, also diagnosed with MS, said, 'I`m here for a cure. It might not cure me but hopefully it will cure the next generation that comes along.

While some of the participants actually have MS, a chronic unpredictable neurological disease, many others came in support of someone they know with MS or just to support the cause.

Event organizers believe they raised close to $70,000 from the walk. The money will go to National Multiple Sclerosis Society programs, education and research. (more)

Correct Posture Month is May

Correct Posture Month: "May is Correct Posture Month. In a May 6, 2004 Yahoo news release is a story from the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) proclaiming May as Correct Posture Month. The article notes that a new study published in the journal 'Spine' revealed an urgent need for health promotion programs to increase awareness and reduce risks in the school environment, such as heavy backpacks, desks and chairs that don't fit their users, and an absence of physical activity during recess. "

ACA 2002 Press Release - Tell Your Kids to Straighten Up and Enjoy Correct Posture All Year Long


The theme for 2005 is Good Posture, Good Health, which forms the posture-wellness connection.

Marla Swoffer: A Spring In Your Step

Marla Swoffer: A Spring In Your Step: "My husband has always had one, but now he has two...springs, that is. They're actually in his shoes. When his dad turned him on to Z-coil footwear I was skeptical (they cost about $200) but he wanted Eddie to have a pair so he sprung for most of the bill. They're supposed to be good for people with foot/back problems or who are on their feet most of the day. There's even a blog with testimonials from customers, doctors, and media write-ups.

The shoes match my husband's Tigger personality and are a definite conversation piece, which is why he didn't get the kind that have concealed springs. Of course it's a natural fit for a children's hair salon since kids loves wacky stuff--my husband somehow manages to pull off dorky and cool at the same time. Kind of like my being both a nerd and (according to him) a hottie. But it's definitely our weirdness that attracts us to each other the most! "

Update: I asked Marla a laundry list of questions via blog comments regarding her husbands' Z-CoiLs. When she deleted the list, I emailed her to find out what was up? Here is what she said:

No, it just wasn't the appropriate forum for that sort of thing. Emails better. But we actually don't want to participate--the shoes are great but it's a matter of privacy. Thanks!

AAOS: Foot Pain

"Foot pain in the 'ball of your foot,' that area between your arch and the toes, is generally called metatarsalgia (met'-a-tar-sal'-gee-a). The pain usually centers on one or more of the five bones (metatarsals) in this mid-portion of the foot.

Causes of foot pain

Sometimes, the foot pain is caused by a callus that forms on the bottom of your foot. A callus is a build-up of skin that forms in response to excessive pressure over the bone. Normally, a callus is not painful, but the build-up of skin can increase the pressure and eventually make walking difficult.

Shoes that don't fit properly because they are too tight or too loose can cause foot pain. Tight shoes squeeze the foot and increase pressure; loose shoes let the foot slide and rub, creating friction.

Pain on the underside of the foot may indicate a torn ligament or inflammation of the joint. Your orthopedic surgeon can do some simple tests to assess joint stability. " (more)

MSWorld Forums - my feet hurt so bad

MSWorld Forums - my feet hurt so bad: "My feet hurt all the time..

If I have to do a lot of walking or standing it becomes
almost unbearable. I have sat in the car before because
I have arrived home and did not want to stand on my feet.
It takes all I have to get out of the car. Its awful.

I am seriously thinking about the Z-Coil shoes. They look
funny as heck but if they can help even a wee bit. Have
you looked at them on the web sites. I wonder if the
spring isn't adjustable therefore you could make it less
pronounced and show less. I need to check into that. But
if they work, I would be willing to wear them in public. To
he!! with what people think.
__________________
Di Brooker "

Testimonial - Genie Bennett

"Genie first came into our store in May of 2004 when she was purchasing her second pair of Z-CoiL's. Before she bought her first pair, she had issues with both her back and her knees, but her Z-CoiL's changed all of that. Since then, she has added a set of twins to her family!

'The most comfort notice that I experienced was when I was pregnant with my twins. The Z-CoiL's were a great help in counteracting the additional 90 pounds that I gained!

'When I got back to work, I tried wearing some non-Z-CoiL's for a day and regretted it that evening. I just bought my fourth pair and can't imagine wearing anything else!'

In fact, her whole family are Z-CoiL lovers, and when we were ringing up her sale, we realized that she had qualified for a free pair of Z-CoiL's due to our referral program! Congratulations, Genie!

Till later,

Caesar...
EZ-Shoes
San Jose, CA

Total Relief Footwear Launches WalkWithoutPain.com

"Wednesday, April 13 Total Relief Footwear announced a website for people suffering from foot, leg and back pain.

www.walkwithoutpain.com is an Austin-based online community filled with articles, tips, forums and links to articles and papers about foot, leg and back pain.

'This website has nothing to do with Z-CoiL footwear,' says Cam White, owner of Total Relief Footwear. 'It has everything to do with making it easier to research your pain condition, and finding relevant and useful information. You can even find contact information about physicians or health professionals that may be able to diagnose and treat your condition.'

New articles, papers and tips will be posted on a regular basis. "

A Free Service:

bookofjoe: These shoes are a flop. And you can quote me.

bookofjoe: Kangoo Jumps: "The Z-Coil website opens with a testimonial from one Sandi Vosburg who says, 'the moment I put the shoes on, I felt relief.'

That wasn't quite the experience I had.

They seemed comfortable enough in the store, so I bought a pair.

After wearing them around the house for a half-hour both my knees started to hurt, toward the outside of the joints.

I took the shoes off and the pain went away.

The next day I tried 'em again: same thing.

I tossed the shoes into the attic, where they rest quietly, in peace, even now, as I type these words.
A shame in a way, because they're so horribly ugly, it'd be fun to wear 'em around just to see the looks on people's faces.
It's hard to believe someone actually decided they were ready for the world just as they appear.

If they did gene splicing experiments on shoe DNA this outcome would, without any question, go into the recycle bin."

Z-Blog Reporter:

do you still have the z-coil shoes in the attic?
did you sell them on ebay?
did you have them adjusted?

Joe Stirt, M.D. : They are in my laundry room, buried under a three foot high pile of
other shoes I never wear.

They require no adjustment.

I take them out for a 40 minute run about once every 3-4 months, just to see.

Then I toss them back in the pile.

The impact is far too great compared to my daily running shoes (Asics Gel Kayano).

Also, once, while wearing the z-coils around the house, I almost sprained my ankle by everting unexpectedly.

These shoes are a flop.

Anything this ugly and expensive had better offer great positives: I see not a single one.

And you can quote me.

Best,

Joe Stirt, M.D.
http://www.bookofjoe.com
'world's only blogging anesthesiologist'
RedNova 'Hot Site' —

When Good Housekeeping reader Ann Dorsey wore a pair of Z-CoiL® pain relief footwear™, she fell and broke her ankle.

Where did Ann Dorsey, a soft-spoken grandmotherly type, get her Zs?

• A local independent Z-CoiL dealer
• A Z-CoiL Independent dealer that went out of business
• E-bay - if so, where they second hand. If Ms. Dorsey purchased a used pair of Zs, were they adjusted for somebody else? (Apparently, Ms. Dorsey emailed Good Housekeeping regarding her ordeal, so she uses a PC.)

Ms. Dorsey’s Z-CoiLs had enclosed heels. Although, there was an older style sold several years ago that included enclosed heels, today they are an option.

Photo: Z-CoiL field tests: Europe for Visitors

Z-coil shoes - allnurses.com Nursing for Nurses - Forum

Z-coil shoes - allnurses.com Nursing for Nurses: "I have worn them (I have three pair!!) for the past year and 1/2 and just love them. Especially if you are on your feet for long periods of time and on hard floors. They made a huge difference for my back and knees which were really hurting from the tile floors I was working on.

I wear the clogs at work and have the hiking boots which are great in the desert mountains nearby and just bought the sandles for summer!!

Who cares what they look like? You get to a certain point in your life when comfort far surpasses looks!! (I'm there). Plus I have had the greatest conversations with people that are curious about them.

They're the best!"

04-29-2004, 03:45 PM
TouchRN

Thanks everyone. I'm going to Wichita in a couple of weeks and intend on finding a store to try them out. They do look odd but who gives a flip. I'd wear mattresses on my feet if it got rid of the pain!

04-28-2004, 08:09 AM
Shamrock

Ok, I "sprung" for a pair of the z-coils and they are:

FANTABULOUS!!!!


No left foot pain AT ALL while I have them on. This is like a miracle to me as that darn foot has hurt every day for the last 13 years! Finally some relief. I would highly recommend them to anyone have plantar faschitis problems.

05-11-2004, 01:11 PM
Shamrock

What’s Crushing Your Feet? Orthopaedic surgeons discuss survey and preventive measures to curb foot problems among the overweight.

Press Release
02/25/2005

At some point in life, everyone experiences foot pain. Whether it is a temporary or persistent problem, pain in the ankle, heel, arch or toes can limit physical activity, causing a great deal of stress on a person’s life. According to a survey by the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS), unveiled today at the 72nd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, foot and ankle problems can be linked to an individual’s weight and body mass index (BMI).

The survey, presented by orthopaedic surgeons Stuart D. Miller, MD (photo), member of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore, Sharon M. Dreeben, MD, chairman of AOFAS’ Public Education Committee, and Glenn B. Pfeffer, MD, immediate past president of AOFAS, asked 6157 respondents, with the mean age of 34.5 years and average body mass index (BMI) of 27.9 kg/m2, online about foot and ankle problems. People with the BMI of 18.5 – 24.9 kg/m2 are classified as normal, 25.0 – 29.9 kg/m2 are considered overweight and above 30.0 kg/m2 are obese.

The results showed a correlation between overweight participants - as measured by the BMI, which is calculated by dividing weight by height - and foot problems. Statistical analysis found an increased BMI for those with current foot and ankle pain. Patients who had prior foot surgery or who had previously seen a physician about foot and ankle pain seemed to have a higher BMI. Also, 40.8 percent of the respondents reported weight gain prior to the onset of pain.

While problems vary from patient to patient, foot and ankle pain often occurs in weight bearing areas, as well as in the tendons and ligaments. Common foot problems include posterior tibial tendonitis, pain in the tendon that runs along the inside of the ankle and the foot; plantar fasciitis, an inflammation in the thick ligamentous connective tissue that runs from the heel to the ball of the foot; and hindfoot arthritis, an inflammation in the back part of the foot.

“An uncomfortable shoe can lead to more serious foot problems,” said Dr. Miller. “It is important to wear proper shoes, because in the long run, fashion is not worth the price of pain.”

(more)

foot wear - allnurses.com Nursing for Nurses - Fourm

foot wear - allnurses.com Nursing for Nurses: "

I bought a pair of Z-Coil shoes last year and have not one regret about the price.

Most nurses I know easily spend that and more in shoes.

A bonus with these shoes is in the spring. Not only can you adjust them, if you walk more on the inside or outside of your foot, but you can replace the springs for only $25/shoe.

The shoes I have are leather and easily cleaned.

I figure if they last me one more year, I've probably saved money in shoes.

I work in a small hospital, and the nearest place to buy them is 2 hrs away, yet there are now approx 5 staff members wearing these shoes. Not only that, but the real kicker is they are a daily topic of talk, esp with pts and their families.

If you do decide to possibly buy them, I would suggest walking around the place you are buying them from for at least 1/2 hr, just to make sure they are the shoe for you.

Also, if you buy them, I would have another pair of shoes at least for the first 2 days of wear. I found I actually walk using different muscles in my legs, and had just a little soreness in the calves, but only for the first 2 days.

I love my Z-Coils. "

03-26-2005, 10:34 PM
nurse96

Multiple Sclerosis Walk - This Weekend

National Multiple Sclerosis Society - MS Walk:

"When thousands of people walk together in the MS Walk, awareness is generated of the many programs and events provided by the National MS Society's nationwide network of chapters. Husbands walk for their wives, kids walk for their dads, co-workers walk for their cubicle neighbor, all proudly wearing an 'I'm Walking For . . .' sticker on their shirt.

Each one is raising money so that local National MS Society offices can provide literature, support groups, and education programs. So that we can continue to fund cutting edge research into the cause and cure. Research that will continue, until in the end, 2 hours pass when no one is diagnosed, then a day, then a week, until the day when no one is diagnosed, and the cure is found. This is why we walk."

For information on 2005 MS Walks, please contact your local chapter.

Resources

THE JOURNAL NEWS, NY - 3,000 walk to fight MS (April 11, 2005)

Dr. Frank Zappa, DPM Comments On Dr. Hirsch's Z-assessement

> Dr. Stuart Hirsch, Biosport Orthopaedic & Sports
> Medicine Associates, Member American Academy of
> Orthopaedic Surgeons stated in the Monday WCBS-TV
> story on Z-Coils that:

> "Gel cushions would provide equal cushioning with a smaller substance than a big wired spring"

> Can you comment on Dr. Hirsch's assessment?

My response to the statement made by Dr. Hirsch is more one of common sense.

How would a 1/4 inch gel cushion, which provides no stability whatsoever, possibly deliver the equal heel strike absorption and cushioning as an engineered tempered steel coil that is attached to a rigid orthotic built into the Z-Coil footwear.

Dr. Hirsch obviously has little experience with Z-Coil footwear.

Dr. Frank Zappa, DPM
Arlington Heights, IL

Terry McKeon Comments On Dr. Hirsch's Z-assessement

> Dr. Stuart Hirsch, Biosport Orthopaedic & Sports
> Medicine Associates, Member American Academy of
> Orthopaedic Surgeons stated in the March WCBS-TV
> story on Z-CoiLs that:

> "Gel cushions would provide equal cushioning with a smaller substance than a big wired spring"

> Can you comment on Dr. Hirsch's assessment?

It is unfortunate that Dr. Hirsch did not take the time to investigate and understand the product. It is clearly evident from his remarks, and total lack of acknowledgement of the independent lab testing, that he does not understand or care to understand the profound differences in the footwear and how they can help people in pain. I hope he is not as narrow minded and dogmatic with all his approaches to healing with his patients.

For example, "Gel cushions would provide equal cushioning with a
> smaller substance than a big wired spring" ---Independent lab testing shows a 50% reduction in shock--show me one study that says gel cushions do that and I'll east my shirt. Properly adjusted, you can feel the difference; it is like night and day. It decreases the impact, and also spreads your impact out over a longer time span. ASK THE FINE DOCTOR WETHER HE THINKS HE SHOULD USE GEL INSERTS IN HIS CAR. THEY ARE JUST AS EFFECTIVE RIGHT DOCTOR?

Another comment I find uneducated is "the elevated heel may cause more problems for people" Not sure if he said this or someone else in the report. The "elevated heel" is only an optical illusion. your foot is actually quite level in the shoe (depending on your spring size and setting) due to the 1 inch forefoot cushioning and the fact that your foot sinks in the spring. If he took the time to play with the variability of the spring he would have noticed that you could spin it, thus placing the strong side of the spring in 4 different places. There are also s, m. l, and XL springs for those of different weights. Such variability even allows you counter act pronation, supination, leg length differences.....

I am by no means saying that Zcoils are a panacea, capable of helping everyone in foot leg and back pain. But in the 13 years I've been a therapist I've met no one product that is its equal. Dr. Hirsch has his opinions. I'm sure he works hard and is good at what he does however on this he is dead wrong. I've helped people I could have never helped this much with Physical Therapy alone. I have other orthopedic surgeons wearing the shoes and they will not live without them.

I would welcome a chance to discuss the product with him and help him understand it fully.



Terry McKeon, Physical Therapist (photo)
Greenfield, MA

Press Release: Good Housekeeping Institute Fudged Facts On Z-CoiL Footwear To Media

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Had Nothing To Do With Evaluating Springy Shoes




April 11, 2005 - In February, the Good Housekeeping Institute published a video report regarding Z-CoiL® Pain Relief Footwear™. Their unfavorable story stated the springy soled shoes were unsafe on sticky surfaces and uneven terrain and could cause back strain.

In the report and the 2005 May issue of Good Housekeeping (Page 90), Dr. Stuart Hirsch was accurately presented as an expert in the medical field and Chair of the Council on Communications for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

But when the Good Housekeeping Institute submitted an article about their Z-CoiL report to King Feature Syndicate, a wire service that daily newspapers nationwide subscribe, Dr. Hirsch was omitted from the story:

"But the elevated heel might strain the back and increase arthritis in the knee, said the American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons Communications Council." - Salt Lake Tribune - Business (03/16/2005)

An American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) representative tried unsuccessfully to contact the Good Housekeeping Institute to have the 120-year-old women's magazine issue a "media correction." The AAOS has never communicated with the Good Housekeeping Institute about Z-CoiL pain relief footwear or issued any official statement about the product. (NOTE: This paragraph was edited by Teena T. Purdiman, Manager, Public Relations, AAOS)

In March, using information from the Good Housekeeping Institute, WCBS-TV consumer news reporter Kirstin Cole (photo) stated in her story, "Are Z-Coils Z Answer For FootPain?," that Dr. Hirsch was WITH the "American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons."

This is not true.

Dr. Hirsch is a “member” of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the Chair of the Council on Communications for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons - a volunteer position. (NOTE: After fact checking this press release, Audrey Pass, Director, Communications, WCBS-TV, sent this one line e-mail from her Blackberry handheld wireless device: "Thank you Jack. We stand behind our story." My reply: Are you interested in contacting the AAOS?)

1) Why would the Good Housekeeping Institute embellish the facts to the media?
2) Why won't Good Housekeeping answer questions regarding their story?

Links, background information, unedited reader comments and interviews with medical professionals regarding the Good Housekeeping Institute Z-CoiL® Pain Relief Footwear™. controversy are available at the Z-Blog Reporter, a syndicated blog maintained by a multi-Z-CoiL shoe owner (6 pair) that is working towards getting several more styles for friends, family and himself.

NOTE: The Z-Blog Reporter is not associated with Z-CoiL or a Z-CoiL independent dealer. The focus of the daily online journal is on customer stories, customer satisfaction, community and adequate, fair media representation.

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