Dr. Christoph Bäumer, Founder & Medical Director, Center for Orthopedic Surgery & Pain Therapy, Hamburg
Nadja Atwal
Nadja Atwal (Journalist, PR-Expert, TV Host, Serial Entrepreneur, Advisory Board Member of the Global AI Council)
Similar to the food industry, the medical industry is currently experiencing a massive change in public perception. Perhaps due to he controversial aftermath of the covid mandates, the consumer is beginning to become skeptical of large pharmaceutical oligopolies, and instead are deciding to venture into the world of holistic healing practises.
Dr. Christoph Bäumer is a specialist in orthopaedics with a focus on special pain therapy, sports medicine, allergology and immunologic diseases, physical therapy and osteopathy. In 2000, he founded his center for orthopedics and pain therapy in Hamburg, which he still coordinates to this day, and treats his patients with a holistic but individualized approach to diagnostics and therapy.
1. How Are You Influencing Your Industry?
Dr. Christoph Bäumer has developed an innovative approach with his concept of Modern Biological Medicine, which aims to improve healthcare through a holistic view of the individual. This concept integrates modern scientific findings with biological and natural healing methods.
The goal is to activate the body’s self healing powers and promote health in a sustainable way. Dr. Bäumer places great emphasis on prevention, individualized therapy approaches, and the consideration of lifestyle factors to enhance patients’ quality of life.
His contributions at international medical congresses have significantly spread his evolutionary perspective on medicine. There, he has highlighted the importance of an integrative approach to health that considers not only biological but also psychological and social aspects of the patient. These presentations have inspired colleagues and raised awareness of the need for a paradigm shift in medicine.
Furthermore, Dr. Bäumer’s work incorporates foundational research in toxicology, mitochondrial medicine and frequency medicine. By understanding the impact of toxins on health, the role of mitochondria in energy production and cellular function, and the therapeutic potential of frequency based treatments, his approach offers a comprehensive framework for addressing complex health issues. Additionally, the patented SmartInsoles® from Smartfoot® have the potential to revolutionize orthopedics as a whole.
The SmartInsoles® are unique because they do not just passively support the foot like most insoles, but actively stabilize it muscularly. They are made of 4 different specialised layers and have specifically placed nubs on topside. The targeted stimulation of these points strengthens physical perception and the exchange of information between the feet and the brain.
This improved perception is converted into movement programs in the brain, which are then expressed in improved muscular function. This can ultimately contribute to improved posture and stability, pain relief for most chronic orthopaedic conditions, as well as a reduced risk of falls and muscle cramps.
Moreover, our foot skin has a special structure with multi-layered tension and grid lines. With every step on a natural surface (e.g. beach, forest, meadow), this structure enables the mobilization of 30-40 cm3 of fluid, which improves lymph and blood flow. However, this only happens to a limited extent when standing or walking on the hard, flat surfaces of our modern environment.
This is why many people in professional environments have swollen legs and feet at the end of the day. With the Smartfoot sole, we can compensate for to- day’s lack of naturalness in walking and bring the aforementioned benefits of walking on natural ground into just about any shoe!
In summary, Dr. Bäumer’s approach in Modern Biological Medicine, combined with the advanced SmartInsoles® from Smartfoot®, could optimize the treatment of orthopedic problems and enhance the overall health and well-being of patients, especially in the fields of prevention and long term health maintenance.
His contributions at international congresses underscore the relevance and impact of his work on the future development of medicine, while his integration of toxicology, mitochondrial medicine, functional and frequency medicine provides a robust foundation for a holistic understanding of health.
2. What Is Your Outlook For Your Industry For 2025 & How Do You Intend To Address it?
The market size for orthopedic foot orthoses in the US was estimated at USD 1.32 billion in 2022. The market is expected to grow from USD 1.45 billion in 2023 to USD 2.35 billion in 2030, representing a compound annual growth rate of 7.2% during the forecast period.
Orthopedic foot orthoses are specially designed to relieve foot pain and improve foot posture. Doctors prescribe these insoles to relieve pain and treat foot complaints. These insoles are either prefabricated or custom-made. Prefabricated insoles are mass produced ac- cording to foot size. Custom-made foot orthoses are specifically designed to provide passive support for the feet. They have various applications including medical, sports and athletics as well as personal comfort.
Modern scientific knowledge makes it necessary to differentiate between insoles that passively support the foot and those that do not. For most structurally healthy but functionally weak feet, passive support is associated with further and undesirable weakening of the muscles of the feet, and is therefore wrong and not to be done.
The growing elderly population in the US and the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases and foot conditions in particular are increasing the need for foot supports. For example, the population aged 85 and older is expected to double from 6.6 million in 2019 to 14.4 million in 2040, according to data published by the US Department of Health and Human Services in 2020.
In addition, according to data published by the American Diabetes Association in 2020, 37.3 million Americans, or 11.3% of the population, had diabetes in 2019.
The increasing prevalence of diabetes is leading to diabetic foot ulcers, which is contributing to the demand for orthopedic foot orthoses. Moreover, technological advancement in the U.S. market is expected to realize the target orthopedic foot orthoses market growth over the forecast period owing to high investments in research and development and robust ongoing clinical trials.
Moreover, prominent players are continuously investing in research and development activities to introduce more fitting and comfortable insoles with the help of latest 3D printing technology, which is expected to boost the market growth over the forecast period.
In July 2022, Foot Levelers, Inc. launched the customized InMotion orthotic for better pain management and comfort. In November 2021, FitMyFoot launched the world’s first customized slide sandals using the latest 3D technology. Such developments are expected to contribute significantly to the growth prospects of the market during the forecast period.
In 2025 a powerful innovation will be presented by Smartfoot®: We launch a relevant innovation in the US market, the first standardized science-based patented insole that best simulates barefoot walking on natural ground in just about any pair of shoes.
It is important to add here that Smartfoot® aims to counteract the progressive functional and structural deconditioning of our feet in most parts of our modern world, which has become virtually unavoidable in civilizatory surroundings with the constant standing and walking on hard, flat floors.
In over thirty years of working with orthopaedic patients, Dr. Christoph Bäumer, the orthopaedist, osteopath and pain therapist behind the Smartfoot products, has come to a shocking conclusion: In his experience, conventional orthopaedic insoles with passive supportive elements do more harm than good to the foot in an estimated 9 out of 10 cases.
Dr. Christoph Bäumer was also able to confirm the results of a scientific research study that children’s feet deteriorate during development in 6 out of 10 cases and that passively supporting insoles have proven to be ineffective in children. To prevent foot problems and back pain, the foot muscles need to be activated in both children and adults.
This is why indigenous peoples, who often walk barefoot on natural surfaces, have fewer foot and posture problems. And this activating effect of barefoot walking can be simulated in just about any shoe in the best possible way with the SmartInsoles® from Smartfoot®.
The growth rate for Smartfoot product has huge potential, 0,1% of the market share for in- soles within the first 2 years after market launch is realistic with appropriate marketing and sales management. One out of a thousand pair insoles is possible for this really new multi- functional product without any other seriously competitive products.