Its funny, because in 2004 I ran a marathon with no foot injuries or pain. But about a year later, I started working at a new place and wearing flat, non-cushioned work shoes. I walked several blocks on cement to a bus, then I walked on cement to the building I worked in, then I walked on cement all around my neighborhood.
Suddenly I had flaming pain underneath my foot that I learned was Plantar fasciitis. It took me awhile to figure out what the pain was. Basically the plantar fascia under my foot had torn a little bit from all the pounding my feet were getting, then it got inflamed, and because I kept walking everyday, it never got a chance to heal.
It got so bad that any walking at all hurt. I tried every recommendation I read about. A lot of advice says to stretch out the Achilles tendon so it won’t tear. This might be good preventative advice, but its totally crappy advice for an already torn tendon or already inflamed fasciaa! (Stretching recommendations include rolling your foot on a tennis ball, stretching the back of your calf, and leaving your foot with your toes pointing up while you sleep – they have many devices to keep your foot in this position.)
If you think about it, what you need is to stay off the torn area so that it gets a chance to heal, and reduce inflammation. If you have to keep walking everyday though, how do you EVER give that tendon a chance to heal? Its a problem, and its one of the reasons plantar fasciitis usually takes so long to heal.
Well, after many months of pain, I found Z-Coil shoes online. They are so ugly, but I swear, my feet hurt so bad, I just didn’t care at all. I had a family vacation coming up and I didn’t want to be in pain the whole time. I wore my Z-Coil shoes for two weeks before the trip.
After months of icing my feet, stretching them, and strength training with limited results, it only took two weeks of wearing my Z-Coil shoes and I was totally pain free. When you are in almost constant pain, and then suddenly you stop hurting, it is a HUGE relief. So, even though my office mates were pretty rude about my ugly shoes, I didn’t care.
I think Z-Coils work because they hold your foot in a certain position so its almost like having a cast for the bottom of your foot. Also, they have a spring on the heel which reduces the impact on your foot. Like I said, my feet completely stopped hurting in two weeks, but they still hurt if I walked barefoot- even in my house, so I had to only wear Z-Coil shoes for quite awhile, almost a year, before my feet were fine in other shoes.
About a year and a half ago, I stopped wearing my z-coil shoes. I got embarrassed about how ugly they are. (A sure sign that I was healed.) Plus, I wanted my feet to have a full range of motion- I think that is healthier for uninjured feet.
Well, last week I ran three miles. My feet started hurting the same day. So, I’m going to start wearing my Z-Coil shoes again. This time I’m catching it sooner, so hopefully my feet will heal more quickly. Once again, the pain suddenly inures me to the ugliness of the shoe.
You can see the different styles at the website. I have the black Walking shoe. They are ugly as sin. I’m not kidding. The new Z-West boot they have looks kind of cute, though. I might have to get that someday. I love boots.
I would ideally like to wear an impact absorbing shoe on a regular basis, but when I am not injured, I’d like one that allows my foot a full range of motion. I’d like to try:
- Spira Footwear - they hide their springs in the heel of the shoe, and they actually have one decently cute style.
- J.Rubio have visible springs, but they are cute in a kind of whimsical way. I like shoes with back though, and all their styles seem to be clogs. They could be nice to have around as quick slip on shoes though.
Z-Coil definitely work if you have plantar fasciitis. They hold your foot in place to give your foot a chance to heal while you still walk, and they absorb impact to prevent future injuries. Very effective against an aggravating injury.
While you are wearing Z-Coils and giving your feet time to heal, I recommend reducing inflammation by icing the injured part of your foot, taking aspirin or ibuprofin if that is ok for you, and eating an anti-inflammatory diet.
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I had my z coil shoes for 2 weeks. How long does it take to feel better. I have plantar fascitis and a burning sensation when I walk. I stretch everyday. Wondering when most people start feeling the positive results.
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Braidwood Reply:
December 2nd, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Hi Ilene,
My feet started feeling better after a couple weeks. I wore them everywhere, even inside. I didn’t even get out of bed without putting them on.
Also, I stretched my feet before getting out of bed which helps a little. I still do that and my feet are mostly fine now.
If they don’t work for you within a month, take them back! You can get your money back after a month except for $30.
I hope your feet feel better soon!
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