What Are High Foot Arches
Do you have high foot arches? No doubt that if you do, you’ll probably know about it – the arch is very pronounced and doesn’t touch the ground when you stand on your feet. All foot arches are important for absorbing shock and stabilising your body, but high arch feet (also known as pes cavus) can lead to a variety of symptoms. Thankfully, all of these are very manageable with the right guidance.
Causes of pes cavus foot types:
Genetic/ natural foot shape – pes cavus feet have a major genetic component, with 68% of high arches in women and 20% in men being inherited from family.
Neurological/ muscular – High arches can also be caused by conditions such as Charcot Marie Tooth Syndrome, diabetes, stroke, cerebral palsy and Parkinson’s disease.
Can high foot arches cause problems?
High arch feet are quite rigid and inflexible, which affects the foot’s ability to absorb shock. This leads to most of the pressure being put through the heels and balls of the feet, potentially leading to problems such as:
- Corns and calluses
- Heel pain
- Hammertoes
- Forefoot pain
- Tight calf muscles
As well as this, high arch foot types may cause problems higher up the chain due to not being able to attenuate ground reaction forces easily. This may lead to ankle, knee, hip and lower back pain, although these can be managed with appropriate treatment.
What is the treatment for high arches?
The number one priority for managing high arch foot types is to support them. Luckily, there are a number of options your podiatrist will have available:
- Orthotic devices – Custom orthotic insoles can help stabilise the high arches and disperse forces evenly across your feet, allowing you to walk around much more comfortably
- Shoe recommendations – supportive footwear to match your foot type will be important to aid in comfort and stability
- Physical therapy – we can provide stretching and strengthening techniques to improve surrounding muscle tone and tendon flexibility
If you have uncomfortable high arch feet, make sure you get in contact with The Movement Centre podiatrists. They can identify why you are experiencing pain and work through a number of options to help you. Don’t live with your painful feet any longer!
