100 years of pedorthics in Germany

Werner Dierolf, cutting the birthday cake

Almost exactly to the day  - on 8  April 2017 –  the German Central Association for Pedorthics (Zentralverband für Orthopädieschuhtechnik) celebrated its centenary. Venue for the anniversary celebration was the restaurant Thüringer Hof in Leipzig, where the first meeting of the newly founded association took place in 1917.

In the midst of World War 1 several pedorthists took the initiative to lay the foundation for an improvement of the treatment with orthopedic shoes and founded the association.

The treatment of war invalids was at that time 100 years ago the main task of the „new“ trade, Werner  Dierolf, president of the Central Association, explained. Today the focus is mainly on the treatment of lifestyle diseases like diabetes and all kinds of foot problems. “We keep people mobile and thus allow them to lead a self-determined life, „Dierolf said in his speech.

IVO-President Serge Mathis, France, had the pleasure to present compliments from the member states of the International Association of Pedorthics (IVO). To make and to deepen cross-border professional contacts is one of the aims of the IVO. “German pedorthics has contributed to that at an early stage and has enjoyed to pass on its professional knowledge”, Mathis stated in his congratulation speech.

„A lot of success for your wonderful work and for the future“, this is the wish of Prof. Hans-Henning Wetz, former director of the clinic for Technical Orthopedics Universitätsklinikum Münster. Concluding he gave an intensive insight into the history of technical orthopedics, but also of pedorthics – with the focus on the treatment with orthotics. Both professions – orthopedic surgeons and pedorthists - aim at bringing the patients back on their feet and giving them back their mobility, Wetz declared.

 

Serge Mathis, President IVO