ORTHOPÄDIE SCHUH TECHNIK – Congress Programme Online

The lecture and seminar programme for the Orthopaedic Shoe Technology congress is now available and can be viewed at www.ost-messe.de. Simultaneous translation into English will be provided in the congress hall on Friday, 24 October 2025, the first day of the congress.

This two-day event will feature around 25 specialist presentations and almost as many seminars, offering the latest knowledge in interdisciplinary sessions. The first day will focus on 'Myths and Facts' and consider how knowledge and assumptions about various topics in pedorthics have changed over time.

C. Maurer Fachmedien is pleased to be organising several sessions with the orthopaedic and foot surgery associations again. In collaboration with the German Society for Foot and Ankle (GFFC), sessions will explore axial misalignments of the foot, ankle joint misalignments, and flat and hollow feet. Prof. Markus Walther, Matthias Löffler, Dr Hartmut Stinus and Michael Volkery will explore conservative and surgical treatment options.

The German Association for Foot and Ankle Surgery (D.A.F.) will examine recent developments in arthrosis therapy. Dr Dariusch Arbab, Dr Mona Abbara-Czardybon and Dr Benjamin Breuer will present surgical treatment options, while Tino Sprekelmeyer and Thomas Stief will present biomechanically oriented concepts for pedorthic treatment.

'Sensomotorics – what do we know today?'

The session on sensorimotor foot orthoses has been organised in collaboration with the Study Group for Orthopaedic Shoe Technology. Dr Steven Simon will demonstrate that there is more scientific evidence for these foot orthoses than has previously been acknowledged. Lothar Jahrling and Stephan Woltring, two of the most experienced pedorthists in sensorimotor orthotics, will discuss how they started working in this field over 25 years ago, the influences that have shaped them, and the criteria they use to design foot orthoses today. Markus Seeßle will present the study group's sensorimotor curriculum, which is intended to ensure high-quality training in this field in future.

Running and Running Injuries

Another highlight of the first day of the congress is a session devoted entirely to running. Prof. em. Gert-Peter Brüggemann of the German Sport University Cologne will examine how different outsole designs affect overuse injuries in athletes. He will also review past paradigms in running shoe research and explain why thinking has changed. Anja Seeger of the Institute for Sports Science at the University of Stuttgart will focus on the axis of the lower ankle joint and explain how it can affect the effectiveness of foot orthotics.

Securing the future of pedorthics!

The second day of the congress focuses on the future. A recent survey by the Baden-Württemberg State Guild of Pedorthics sheds light on how pedorthics is perceived by the general public, and the opportunities available to the profession in the future.

One of the most pressing issues currently affecting pedorthics is the shortage of skilled workers. Not only are journeymen and master craftsmen in high demand, but the number of trainees is also declining dramatically. This is why recruiting young talent is the focus of a series of topics organised in cooperation with KomZet O.S.T., with the keynote speaker being

Felix Behm, one of the leading experts on Generation Z, who will ask: What makes the younger generation tick? Are our assumptions about them really true? How can we get young people excited about the profession and establish mutually productive collaborations?

Master orthopaedic shoemakers who have successfully trained apprentices in their businesses will also reveal how they find trainees and maintain their enthusiasm for pedorthics in the long term.The changing self-image of orthopedic shoe technology

In addition to the shortage of skilled workers, pedorthics faces many other challenges. Health insurance companies are under pressure. Digital manufacturing methods are becoming increasingly common in the supply of medical aids. Although this can be a helpful support for companies in view of the shortage of skilled workers, these technologies are also increasingly enabling providers and investors from outside the industry to enter the market.

The “Future Prospects” section, which is being conducted in cooperation with KomZet O.S.T., therefore focuses on how these developments are changing the craft and self-image of OST. What will constitute the qualifications of a pedorthist in the future if, at first glance, assistive devices can also be manufactured by machines or external service providers? What constitutes their indispensable expertise, and how can they position themselves on the market with it?

Following a keynote speech by Wolfgang Best, editor-in-chief of Orthopädieschuhtechnik, the future prospects of pedorthics will be the focus of a panel discussion moderated by Frederic Großmann, KomZet O.S.T. This is an opportunity to join the discussion and help shape the future of this craft!

In addition to the shortage of skilled workers, the field of pedorthics faces many other challenges. Health insurance companies are under pressure. Digital manufacturing methods are becoming increasingly common in the production of medical aids. While these technologies can support companies in the face of the shortage of skilled workers, they are also enabling providers and investors from outside the industry to enter the market.

The 'Future Prospects' section, conducted in cooperation with KomZet OST, therefore focuses on how these developments are changing the craft and self-image of OST. If assistive devices can also be manufactured by machines or external service providers, what will constitute the qualifications of a pedorthist in the future? What expertise will be indispensable to them, and how can they position themselves on the market?

Following a kick-off presentation by Wolfgang Best, editor-in-chief of Orthopädieschuhtechnik, there will be a panel discussion moderated by Frederic Großmann of KomZet O.S.T. on the future prospects of pedorthics. Join the discussion to help shape the future of this craft!

You can find the complete programme with all lectures and seminars here.