“We’re offering something unique”

This is what team work is all about: Karsten Høgh, owner of “Fysio-shop.dk” in Denmark, configures precise milled orthoses on the screen using Bodytronic ID:CAM. They are manufactured in Zeulenroda, Germany, according to his specifications. His customers are so impressed that the Bauerfeind distributor is now training selected Danish retailers in the use of the web application.

“Absolutely amazing!” The overjoyed 29-year-old handball player jumps up and down and sprints a few meters back and forth. Beaming with delight. Friday morning in the physio department of the “Fit&Sund” health center with a wide range of modern training and rehabilitation facilities in Skanderborg, Denmark: Lars Skaarup is trying out his first Bauerfeind foot orthoses, made using Bodytronic ID:CAM. Kathja Rasmusen’s face is also lit up. After a comprehensive examination the week before, the certified sports physical therapist took Lars Skaarup’s foot imprints using imprint foam, and sent them to Karsten Høgh in Hadsten.

The owner of “Fysio-shop.dk”, which is equipped with its own Bauerfeind Performance Center, created a 3D scan of the foam imprints using the Bodytronic 600. He then input the scanned data into the web application to which Kathja Rasmusen has direct access. She configured and modeled details, such as the height of the foot orthoses, topology, material, properties, and special features – and at the push of a button, ordered Lars Skaarup’s foot orthoses from Bauerfeind in Zeulenroda. This is precision work using Bodytronic ID:CAM – even across borders.

Countless possibilities

“With Bodytronic ID:CAM, we’re offering something unique,” Karsten Høgh reports. In 2011, the physical therapist opened “Fysio-shop.dk”, a specialist physiotherapy clinic for outpatients, including a medical supply retail store. He specializes in sports injuries and rehabilitation, and offers diagnosis, treatment, and consultation. As the exclusive distributor in Denmark, he sells Bauerfeind’s entire product portfolio. He is impressed by the individually milled foot orthoses – as are his customers. Instead of a standard shape, the custom-made foot orthoses are precisely adapted to each customer’s feet. “There are so many possibilities,” the 46-year-old shares excitedly. “The precision during data collection and processing of the foot orthoses results in a success rate of practically 100%. I’ve never experienced this before in over 20 years in this field.”

He was trained at the Bauerfeind Academy where he regularly updates his expertise – digitally or on site. One thing quickly became obvious to this agile amateur athlete: patients everywhere in Denmark should benefit from this opportunity. He therefore developed a new module for his certification program to prepare other therapists in the use of Bodytronic ID:CAM – initially, his two “Fysio-shop.dk” colleagues as well as two retailers in Struer and Morsø, but first Kathja Rasmusen and Tina Lindholdt.

The latter two are part of the 14-strong physical therapist team at “Fit&Sund”, one of the biggest fitness and rehabilitation centers in the country that also offers personal training and nutrition counseling etc. Stylish Scandinavian design and a casual atmosphere characterize the modern center. Customers log in at computer screens, speed bikes are humming. Special displays present Bauerfeind products. Over coffee, the two women in their mid-thirties talk about their experience. “Karsten trained us on site for two days,” explains Tina Lindholdt, specialist in musculoskeletal physiotherapy. “One part was about theory, and in the practical part, we made our own foot orthoses.” For the final qualification, they participated in Bauerfeind’s online workshop.

Some enthusiasm for technology is needed

That was at the beginning of 2021. Since then, the two women have been convinced users of the system. To scan the foam imprints, they use the Bodytronic 600 measurement system in “Fysio-shop.dk”. It will see increased use soon because Karsten Høgh is planning to gradually train other retailers: “My goal is ten to twelve, all across Denmark.” Just like Kathja Rasmusen and Tina Lindholdt, they should be able to use the modules as part of individual modeling (see box), meaning “being a little nerdy,” he adds with a smile.
“The foot orthoses usually arrive after five working days,” Kathja Rasmusen explains. “Then we ask patients to come in so they can try out the milled blanks.” The foot orthoses then get their final touch with the milling machine. The service also includes a final check-up appointment after about two weeks of the patient wearing the foot orthoses. “Most of the time though, the customers are so happy that they cancel the appointment,” Kathja Rasmusen reports, laughing. “Or they bring another pair of shoes for which they’d also like insoles.” And that’s the clever thing: the foot orthoses can simply be reproduced.

After all, it is not just professional athletes like Lars Skaarup or Rasmus Henriksen, goal keeper for the Mors-Thy handball team, who trust in the foot orthoses. After a torn cruciate ligament two years ago, the 21-year-old regularly gets “Fysio-shop.dk” to fit his running, handball, and leisure shoes with foot orthoses. He swears by the perfect support the foot orthoses give him: “They have been made precisely for my feet. That’s noticeable.” The foot orthoses are also designed to prevent a recurring cruciate ligament tear, Karsten Høgh explains while working on the current scan of Rasmus Henriksen’s foot imprint on the screen – with a little bit of practice, it takes around 15 minutes. For the preceding examination, including the imprint, he estimates about 45 minutes.

Most Danish people are self-funders

In addition to cruciate ligament injuries, Karsten Høgh’s customers suffer from knee or meniscus injuries. Problems with the Achilles tendon, shin, or heel spurs as well as inflammations of all kinds are also often mentioned. The “wider Danish population” reports, for example, high-arched or flat feet, osteoarthritis, hip, or back problems. Congenital or caused by obesity, diabetes, or pregnancy. Tina Lindholdt was moved by a young cancer patient who suffered from polyneuropathy after her chemotherapy, and could walk just about 100 meters: “Our foot orthoses provided her numb toes with new support. Today, she is able to walk four to five kilometers again!” In this case, the public authorities subsidized the product. That is also the case with other serious diagnoses, disabilities, or unemployment.

In general, however, nine out of ten Danish people pay for their foot orthoses themselves. This is where Bauerfeind products prove helpful because they are characterized by quality and durability. That is why customers return to the attractively designed, bright “Fysio-Shop” in Hadsten when their foot orthoses are worn out. And why they recommend it to others. So no question that Karsten Høgh also makes foot orthoses for himself using Bodytronic ID:CAM: “I wear Bauerfeind foot orthoses in my cycling, golf, and everyday shoes.” After all, he knows best what they can do.

Bodytronic ID:CAM: An impressive variety

Precision, a variety of designs, short production times: these main features make Bodytronic ID:CAM highly attractive, for users outside Germany, too. Via the web application, medical retailers send their orders for individually modeled milled orthoses to Thuringia for production. During configuration, three profiles are available: Basic: Mandatory details relating to material, shape, and shoe size are sufficient. The foot orthosis is modeled by Bauerfeind experts. Advanced: Suitable for orthotists who use modules or models from the library for modeling. Before production, Bauerfeind will check whether the milled orthosis created digitally can be milled. Professional: Users configure and model the foot orthosis themselves. The order is sent directly to be produced. Minor adjustments to the foot orthoses can be made by the retailer with a grinding machine. This is how Bodytronic ID:CAM combines digital precision with the specialist expertise and practical experience of its users. The certification for the free web application at the Bauerfeind Academy for retailers takes one and a half days. For more information, please visit: https://idcamrev2.bauerfeind.com

Images: Jens Erik Baek