GREENFIELD, Ind. -- Feet take a pounding every day, and according to the American Podiatric Medical Association, 75 percent of Hoosiers will suffer from foot problems at some point in their lifetime.

"Podiatrists see the No. 1 problem, the heel," said Dr. Richard Viehe, a podiatrist.

Heel pain triggered by plantar fasciitis nearly stopped Rachel Pergl, a fitness instructor, in her tracks.

"Doing high impact aerobics became very painful, and just thinking about teaching made me want to cry," Pergl told 6News Staying Healthy reporter Stacia Matthews.

Pergl said she found relief in funny-looking footwear, called Z-coil.

"It is reducing the impact on the body by 50 percent," said Cherie Whitaker, who runs a Z-Coil store in Greenfield.

Although the shoes have been around for 15 years, they're just now gaining stride in the Hoosier state.

This year, stores have opened across central Indiana in Avon, Carmel and Greenfield.

Whitaker sells the thick-soled shoes with a shock absorbing coiled heel to customers seeking comfort. She said a custom-molded orthodic helps ensure evenly distributed pressure across the foot.

Whitaker fitted a customer, who overpronates when she walks, with a pair of steel-toed Z-coil boots

"If we see that they overpronate, we can make adjustments to the coil to help straighten that pronation out and relieve the pressure on their hips and their knees," Whitaker said.

The way the shoes look and feel takes some getting used to. Rachel said she noticed a difference in a few weeks.

"This literally saved my career," she smiled.

Still, Viehe said it's never a good idea to neglect your feet.

"Everybody only gets two feet and they often neglect their feet until they’re giving them real trouble. I recommend they take the time to have them checked so their feet will last them their whole life if they take care of them, he said.

Z-coil shoes come in many styles from sandals to steel-toed boots. Prices start at $200.