OrangeStep Health Files IPO Prospectus: Pioneering 3D Personalized Biomechanical Orthotic Insoles for Youth Foot and Spine Health

Over the course of a lifetime, a person walks approximately 200,000 kilometers, equivalent to circling the Earth four times. As the foundation of the human body, the feet facilitate movement during daily walking, enhance the capacity of the lower extremities to bear body weight and pressure, stabilize the ankle joint, and support body weight. Research indicates that foot dysfunction can directly affect the knee joints, hip joints, spine, and related soft tissues, including muscles and ligaments.

Abroad, the concept and awareness of foot orthotics have been widely adopted for a long time. The specialty of foot and ankle surgery in Europe and the United States has a history spanning over a century. In Germany, children undergo routine foot examinations from an early age to screen for underdeveloped arches, with timely provision of corresponding corrective treatments and health management plans. This approach emphasizes the use of appropriate foot care products, such as footwear, insoles, and nursing products, for early prevention and correction.

For a long period in the past, the development of China’s foot and spinal health industry was virtually stagnant. The most common response among Chinese people to foot ailments was not to seek medical attention, but rather to endure the discomfort or passively adapt to it.

Zhao Jingming, CEO of Chengjie HealthHe stated, “In Germany, I saw orthopedic correction centers in every city center, as common as barbershops. Although the income level of Chinese people has significantly improved compared to the past, our concepts and awareness regarding foot and spinal health are still far from sufficient.”

In Zhao Jingming’s view, hospitals have traditionally been visited only by those with medical needs seeking diagnosis and treatment. However, individuals with health-related needs—such as correction for conditions like flat feet or in-toeing, which are not pathological structural abnormalities and do not warrant surgical intervention—often fall outside this scope. Over time, this has led to insufficient awareness and understanding of corrective care among the public.

Survey data on children's foot health in China reveal that less than 30% of Chinese children have healthy foot shapes, making the country a high-prevalence region for foot disorders. The incidence of pediatric foot deformities is rising year by year, with a trend toward flattening of the longitudinal arch and an increasingly younger age of onset. The most common pediatric foot problems include flat feet, in-toeing and out-toeing gait patterns, and hindfoot varus and valgus deformities.

Orange Sensoped Foot Orthotics Center

Clinical needs provide direction for the development of technological products. In 2018,Shanghai Chengjie Health Technology Co., Ltd.(abbreviated as: Chengjie Health) was established. As a high-tech company dedicated to improving foot and spinal health, Chengjie Health provides consumers with core products and services of 3D personalized biomechanical corrective insoles, leveraging its key technologies in core foot-spine correction models, correction algorithms, and customized materials. The company has currently established its own brand, SENSOPED.

Orange Health’s journey with 3D-customized insoles began during a trip to Germany.

In 2017, while studying diabetic foot conditions in Germany, Zhao Jingming was introduced to custom-made orthotic insoles and was deeply impressed by the rigorous and effective German technology. After gaining a deeper understanding of the industry, he recognized the significant advantages of integrating medicine with engineering to address foot and spinal health issues and improve quality of life.

After in-depth exploration and market research, Zhao Jingming learned that urbanization has led to a growing number of foot and spinal problems among children and adolescents in China. Recognizing that Germany’s century-old system has helped German children navigate this stage successfully, he decided to introduce this time-tested system to China.

After bringing the technology back to China, Zhao Jingming discovered that, driven by the country’s vigorous promotion this year, the foot and spinal health industry had rapidly developed. However, the market was still dominated by traditional standardized products rather than personalized assessment and customization solutions. This reinforced Zhao Jingming’s resolve to transform the industry and build a foot and spinal health brand truly tailored to the Chinese population.

As a practitioner in the broader health and wellness industry, Zhao Jingming is well aware of the unique physiological characteristics of Asians and understands the principle that “suitability is key.” Building upon Germany’s century-old system, Orange Health (Chengjie Health) has established a professional team of orthotists led by Ms. Xiao Qingxia, an ISPO Category I certified orthotist. Over the course of two years, the team successfully completed localized technological innovations tailored specifically to Chinese adolescents.

“Digitalization and precision rely on the underlying correction algorithms. We have jointly applied for national research projects with teams from multiple hospitals. Currently, we have completed the project on flatfoot correction in children and adolescents commissioned by the China Disabled Persons’ Federation,” said Zhao Jingming.

After serving thousands of families, the team discovered that,The Vast Majority of Children with Foot Problems Also Present with Scoliosis, this phenomenon raised concerns within the team. To identify the underlying causes, the technical team conducted in-depth research and ultimately discovered that while the child’s postural abnormalities manifested in the spine, their root cause lay in the plantar region of the feet.

According to preliminary epidemiological survey data released by the Spinal Disease Prevention and Control Committee of the Chinese Preventive Medicine Association, China has a total of 156 million primary and secondary school students, among whom 5 million suffer from scoliosis, representing a prevalence rate of 3.2%. This equates to approximately 3 out of every 10 primary and secondary school students being affected by scoliosis. The number of cases is increasing at an annual rate of approximately 300,000. Scoliosis has become the third major disease threatening the health of children and adolescents in China, following obesity and myopia.

To help parents understand that their child's scoliosis may be caused by foot problems, Chengjie Health has launchedRadiation-Free Spinal Screening Technology, helping more children with scoliosis identify the true root causes of their condition. This discovery also serves to validate Orange Health’s long-held philosophy: foot and spinal health begins from the ground up.

Xiao Xin, an 11-year-old boy with a lively personality and a constant smile, has an unusual gait. Upon noticing this, his parents promptly took him to the hospital for diagnosis; however, no appropriate treatment was available, nor could they find a suitable specialized institution in Shanghai.

Upon a friend’s recommendation, Xiao Xin’s family came to Chengjie. After assessment and screening, it was found that Xiao Xin had severe in-toeing gait, significant arch deformation, and poor lower limb stability, which led to an inability to control his body. Moreover, his calves, pelvis, and shoulders were also affected. If these issues are not corrected in time, spinal curvature may develop as he grows older and participates in various sports, and he will be prone to internal tissue damage within the knee joint capsule.

In response to Xiao Xin’s condition, Chengjie has developed three therapeutic strategies: 1. Active Training. This aims to enhance the child’s musculoskeletal strength and gait stability, thereby establishing correct motor patterns and habits; 2. Passive Intervention. The child wears corrective orthotic insoles during daily activities outside of formal training sessions, helping to maintain the improved structural alignment achieved through therapy even in an unconscious state; 3. Home-Based Micro-Training. Therapists have designed a series of home exercises, enabling the child to perform corrective training at home on a daily basis.

After three months of active rehabilitation training, intervention with passive corrective insoles, and the active cooperation of both the child and his parents, Xiao Xin’s intoeing condition has improved, with significant changes observed in his posture and motor performance.

According to Zhao Jingming,Foot problems cannot be resolved overnight., full recovery of the foot-spine system requires a phased approach: identifying issues, halting disease progression, undergoing rehabilitative training, and finally, maintaining regular exercise to restore optimal function.

Orthotic insoles provide passive support, an external-to-internal intervention that requires prolonged wear to achieve corrective effects, primarily serving to curb the progression of foot and spinal issues.

Based on scientific principles of human biomechanics, Chengjie Health leverages"Measurement, Assessment, Modeling, Manufacturing"A Four-Step Process: Integrating Digital Foot Scanning, Scientific Correction Algorithms, and CNC 3D Manufacturing to Provide Personalized Custom Orthotics for Children, Adults, and Patients with Foot Conditions. This initiative aims to promote the concept of foot health management across society, supporting healthy posture development in Chinese children and adolescents from the ground up.

First, a comprehensive range of German-imported testing services. Chengjie Health has introduced a full suite of scientific testing equipment and software imported from Germany, providing all-aroundCollect dynamic and static foot data from patients, including gait, standing posture, plantar pressure, and 3D foot models., and in combination with the orthotist's specialized techniques, examine the movement status of the feet, lower limbs, and trunk to conduct a comprehensive examination and assessment.

Second is the transparent, end-to-end process of personalized customization. Based on the detailed data results from diagnostic reports and individual needs, orthotists provide professional analysis to complete the solution.Customized Solutions, and complete the fabrication of customized insoles on-site. The insole milling machines and materials are all originally imported from Germany, utilizing solid pieces of non-toxic, eco-friendly board material. 3D carving is performed based on real-time data, ensuring a fully transparent and visible process to create personalized, fully customized insoles.

Finally,Free Follow-upthoughtful after-sales service. Foot health management requires long-term care, and SENSOPED fully customized insoles provide free follow-up services every 3 months, which canTrack changes in users' foot data and adjust solutions accordingly., further maintaining a healthy and proper gait posture and stability, comprehensively safeguarding foot health.

Zhao Jingming also stated that, in order to accelerate the recovery of physical function,It also requires proactive adjustments from the inside out,That is rehabilitation training, which helps strengthen foot muscles and rebuild correct movement patterns.

To this end, Orange Health has created China's first platform that simultaneously possessesOrthotists and Rehabilitation Therapists' Rehabilitation Team, we have developed a scientific, systematic, effective, and straightforward rehabilitation program to help children achieve a rapid and stable return to health. By employing an innovative model that combines active and passive therapies, we facilitate faster recovery of the foot and spine system.

Zhao Jingming is well aware that in the internet era, the power of an individual or even a team is limited. Therefore, Chengjie has always focused on technological and product upgrades. With mature products in hand, the next step is to rapidly expand their reach, benefiting more children and adolescents by addressing their foot and spinal health issues.

After three years of operating multiple stores in Shanghai, Chengjie has developed a comprehensive and meticulous set of store operation processes and service standards. Currently, Chengjie Health operates two offline rehabilitation centers in Shanghai, as well as offline stores in Tianjin and Foshan.

Regarding future plans, Zhao Jingming stated that Chengjie Health is a technology-driven proactive health company. Built on the scientific foundation of biomechanics, it provides digital foot and ankle orthoses to help people live better lives. In the short term, the company aims to establish more foot rehabilitation centers across China to better support foot and spinal correction among Chinese adolescents.

In the long term, the domestic market is still in its nascent stage. Orange Health has been committed to promoting market education, but with limited resources. We hope to collaborate with industry partners to jointly enhance awareness and understanding of foot and spine health in China.

“Industry development requires our collective efforts. In the future, we hope to leverage an integrated approach encompassing industry, academia, research, and clinical practice to achieve three goals: first, to develop comprehensive intelligent gait diagnosis and treatment solutions, create more socially beneficial products, and establish a leading platform in the field of foot and ankle health in China; second, to collaborate with more specialized medical institutions to jointly formulate Chinese standards in areas such as diabetic foot care and common active health assistive devices; and third, to partner with major teaching hospitals and experts to advance scientific research, address unmet clinical needs, and translate these findings into products that benefit the numerous foot and ankle patients across China,” said Zhao Jingming.

Fosun·Star Future Startup Camp is an incubation and investment platform under Star Future Capital, a subsidiary of Fosun Group, established in collaboration with Fosun Pharma. Focused on the broader healthcare sector, it adopts a “community + incubation + investment” model to explore cutting-edge innovation, nurture entrepreneurial talent, and proactively identify and invest in future unicorns.

In 2022, Fosun Star Future Entrepreneurship Camp is set to launch its fourth cohort. Targeting entrepreneurs in the healthcare sector and aspiring innovators, the program invites top-tier global mentors and introduces six core incubation modules, offering entrepreneurship courses and services grounded in China’s medical industry background and practical experience.