HAVE you ever dreamed of walking with a spring in you steps or jumping like a kungfu master? Well, your dream may come true. And, you’ll not only jump, but get some relief for your feet, knees, and back.

The spring comes from a real spring attached to the heel of the strange, space-age shoe that Al Gallegos wants to sell you. He’s the 73-year-old inventor of the Z-CoiL line of pain-relief footwear, which, he says, "Will surely bring a smile to your face."

The spring functions as extra cushioning to help prevent foot problems. A total of 350,000 pairs of these shoes have already been sold.

Z-CoiLs first hit the shelves four years ago in New Mexico, US. Since then, the shoes have become something of a cult item. They’re only sold through authorized dealers, and target people with painful leg, foot and back problems.

"It’s a dream come true after such a long time and so much work," says Gallegos. He first thought of using springs in shoes while out running his typical seven miles one day. His thought was this: Every car, from economy to luxury vehicle, uses shock absorbers (like springs) to take the rough road bumps while passengers sit smoothly in their seats. Why not use the same simple technology in footwear?