Understanding High Arches: Causes, Symptoms, & Causes
High arches causes many medical conditions on the foot and leg.
If you have high arches, underpronation (supination) is more likely to occur. Being supinated can put too much pressure on the joints and muscles in your foot, ankle, and leg, which will cause pains associated with being supinated, including:
- Hammer Toes
- Knee Pain
- Achilles Tendon
- Illiotibial band pain
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Metatarsalgia
- Shin Splints
What are High Arches?
High arches are a common foot problem, and it is also called the Cavus Foot or pes cavus, in which the arch of your foot is higher than average (foot deformity). When excessive pressure is placed on the ball and heel of the foot when walking or standing because of a high arch in your feet, it can lead to various symptoms, including pain and instability. Severe cases may cause discomfort and pain while standing; this is usually centred in the heel. It can develop at any age.
High arches can be hereditary, or they can be caused by injuries that damage nerves and tendons in the feet.
Symptoms Of High Arches
An obvious symptom of the cavus foot is the visible high arch. Other signs may include:
- Pain on the outside of your heel, joint pain
- Calluses
- Hammertoes (bent toes)
- inflammation
- Difficulty with balance (instability)
- Toe deformity
If you have high arches, underpronation (supination) is more likely to occur. Being supinated can put too much pressure on the joints and muscles in your foot, ankle, and leg, which will cause pains associated with being supinated, including:
- Knee Pain
- Achilles Tendon
- Illiotibial band pain
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Metatarsalgia
- Shin Splits
Causes Of High Arches
Many things can cause high arches, such as the shape of your feet. Some people are inborn with high arches. Outside of genetics, cavus foot can be caused by neurological disorders and other medical conditions.
- Heredity
- Foot injuries
- Medical and neurological conditions or nerve problems (Charcot Marie Tooth Syndrome, diabetes, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy)
- Bone problems
Possible Treatment
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for treating high arches, but there are some options available if you want to take care of them yourself at home or get professional help from South Perth Podiatrist.
Treatment for high arches includes prescription custom orthotics that fit into shoes to realign your feet’ bones.
What are the Risk & limitations due to High Arches in day to day life?
People with high arches are more prone to foot injuries. They have a higher risk of developing hammertoe, bunions and corns. It is because the weight distribution on their feet is uneven due to a higher arch. As a result of high arches, less of your foot is touching the ground, which means providing less shock absorption and is less able to support weight when running or during physical activities, changing your walking pattern, and there can be more risk of injury.
Why Choose Stephen Zucal South Perth Podiatrist for High Arches treatment?
Stephen Zucal South Perth Podiatrist offers comprehensive and quality podiatric care, bringing the utmost service to our patients.
Stephen Zucal has expertise in providing accurate diagnosis and possible treatments for high arches through conducting a clinical exam, such as x-rays, observing your walking pattern and foot functions, and reviewing your medical history as well as your family history to determine the causes of the condition.
FAQs
Get your answers here
Are high arches good or bad?
A high raised arch in the foot area can lead to even more weight on your foot’s ball and heel, which adds strain. If you have a cavus foot, your feet can’t absorb shock well; hence, it will be painful to walk for long periods. Severe cases may cause discomfort and pain while standing; this is usually centred in the heel.
In severe cases, cavus foot will immobilise a person from bearing weight altogether for long periods of time. This can prompt them to seek treatment.
Do high arches affect balance?
One of the main drawbacks to high arches is foot and ankle instability because of the weight imbalance in your feet, leading to overbalance risks.
Do I need orthotics for high arches?
High arches can cause pain in your foot area and even in the lower part of your body (iliotibial band). Wearing custom corrective orthotic devices is the gold standard.
How common are high arches?
High arches are relatively rarer than flat feet, and both can cause problems. WebMD reports that cavus foot is hereditary and is inherited by 68% of women and 20% of men. However, if the condition develops outside of gene factors, it can be caused by other medical conditions or overuse injuries.
Can high arches cause hip pain?
Cavus foot can affect your knee, ankle, hip and back. Having high arches can place extra stress due to a weight concentration on the ball of one’s foot. This leads to aches and pains, especially in your metatarsals, or bones of the midfoot.
Can high arches cause Achilles pain?
Cavus foot may cause the heel to tilt outward (supination). That can put too much pressure on the joints and muscles in your foot, ankle, and leg, which will cause ankle sprain and can be associated with Achilles tendon.
Do orthotics help high arches?
It’s essential to wear orthotics as recommended by your podiatrist, or you could worsen any preexisting injuries. You will also experience related symptoms such as back pain, leg discomfort, ankle issues, and elbow problems. Custom orthotics (shoe inserts) help prevent a person’s feet from rolling excessively inward or outward.Custom orthotics are the gold standard for this condition.
Do high arches cause overpronation?
If someone has a high arch in their foot, they are more likely to supinate.
If you have high arches, your foot may tend to supinate or underpronation. It means that when walking or running, your arch will not absorb shock that can lead to foot or heel pain. Overpronation tends to happen among people with an arch that did not fully develop.
What is the best shoe for high arches?
High arches are a common foot problem that causes discomfort in the feet with physical activity. High-arched feet often tend to be less flexible, which typically means they need extra padding in footwear and the foot’s instep. Look for shoes with more volume, as a high-arched foot needs room inside the shoe and then find good insoles that you can use along with your footwear. One general type example is cushioned athletic shoes.
What problems do high arches cause?
High arches may be problematic for various reasons, depending on the shape and height of your arch. Usually, the source is due to an underlying condition that impacts how you walk or stand. Common problems linked to high arches are foot and ankle instability.