High Arched Feet Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment

High arches (pes cavus) are the excessive, fixed flexion of the arch of the foot.

While weight-bearing stress is typically distributed across the entire foot in people with normal arches, those with high arches carry their weight mainly on the heels, the lateral column of the foot (the entire side of the foot along the pinky toe area), and the balls of the feet. This places undue stress on the toes and ankles, leading to pain and instability.

Since a high-arched foot lacks the flexibility to absorb shock, it will tend to roll outward (supinate) as the foot rolls through a step. This can increase the risk of an ankle sprain or fracture.

High arches can develop at any age and occur in one or both feet.

Causes

High-arched feet are most often an inherited structural deformity that is generally unrelated to any other health concern.

In some cases, pes cavus is secondary to neurologic conditions such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), in which neuromuscular contractions draw the ball of the foot closer to the heel. CMT is believed to account for 50% of neurologically induced pes cavus.

Other causes include post-stroke paralysis, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, clubfoot, poliomyelitis, and muscular dystrophy.

While all of these cases can result in significant pain and impairment, those with a neurologic cause tend to progress faster and require more in the way of medical attention.

Symptoms

High arches do not cause symptoms in all people but can often develop with age as compressed bones begin to fuse or misalign. If and when symptoms develop, they typically include:

• Metatarsalgia (pain and cramping in the ball of the foot)
• Lateral ankle instability, often causing twisting, tripping, and sprains
• Hammertoes (bent toes) or claw toes (clenched toes)
• Plantar fasciitis (inflammation of the tendon that runs between the heel and toes)
• Calluses on the ball, side, or heel of the foot
• Knee, hip, and low back pain

If symptoms persist, the condition may give rise to ankle arthritis, stress fractures, shin splints, or Achilles tendonitis.

Extra attention should be paid to people with diabetes, in whom excessive foot pressure may promote hard-to-treat ulcers.

Diagnosis

You can often self-diagnose high arches by wetting your foot and stepping on a piece of paper. A high-arched foot will leave a narrow point between the heel and ball of the foot. Typically, the foot would flatten, leaving a wider impression alongside the arch.

If a high arch causes pain or is causing you to trip or stumble, you will want to see a specialist known as a podiatrist who can evaluate your foot structure and check for any abnormalities in your gait. They'll look for characteristic features such as:

• Calluses
• Hammertoes
• Claw toes
• Abnormal wear on the outer heel or outer edge of your shoes

In addition to a physical exam, the doctor will want information about your current health, medical history, and family history to help assess whether the cause is structural or neurologic.

X-rays may be ordered to support the diagnosis. If needed, you may be referred to a neurologist to pinpoint the cause and nature of the disorder.

Treatment

The treatment of high arches can vary by the cause and severity of the condition. Efforts would be made to treat the disorder conservatively whenever possible.

Non-surgical options include:

• Custom orthotic devices are inserted into a shoe to correct the foot position and provide arch support. Doing so can improve stability and add much-needed cushioning to your foot.
• Ankle braces are used to stabilize wobbly ankles and prevent excessive supination while standing or walking.
• Physical therapy may be recommended to teach you stretching and strengthening techniques that help improve your muscle tone and tendon flexibility.
• Custom orthotic shoes can also be ordered if adequate footwear cannot be found elsewhere. While expensive, they are often a good solution for people wanting to avoid or delay surgery.

If conservative therapy fails to provide relief, surgery may be explored (generally if the pain is extreme and affecting your ability to move about).

No single procedure is appropriate for all situations, and multiple procedures may be needed to achieve the desired result. Surgical options may include the following.

Plantar Fascia Release

The contracted tendon between the heel and ball of the foot is partially cut to release the tension.

It's typically performed as an open operation and requires a plaster cast to help the foot heal the right position. Recovery takes around four to six weeks.

Tendon Transfer Surgery

A tendon is shifted from its original position to a new one to release tension and improve mobility. It is not a transplant; instead, the tendon is simply moved.

It's performed as open surgery, requires casting, and recovery time is up to eight weeks of recovery time (including four weeks of non-weight-bearing bed rest). It is also likely to require aggressive and difficult physical therapy afterward to re-educate the muscle.

Osteotomy

An open surgical procedure in which a bone is cut to shorten it, lengthen it, or change its alignment.

When used to correct a high arch, it's most often used to reposition the heel bone (calcaneus). Screws and wires hold the realigned bones in place. Recovery time is around six weeks.

Arthrodesis

An open surgical technique in which adjacent bones are moved and fused together to increase stability.

Arthrodesis is typically used when there's either severe rigidity in the arch or rapid deterioration of the arch structure. Depending on the location, the recovery time (with casting) can take anywhere from four to nine weeks.

Risks

As with any surgery, there are risks, including:

• Infection
• Nerve damage
• Improper bone healing
• Painful hardware post-operation
• Improper wound healing (dehiscence), leading to further need for surgery
• Deep vein thrombosis
• Postoperative bleeding
• The formation of clots
• Reaction to general anesthesia

Be sure to speak with your surgeon so you fully understand the benefits and risks of the procedure as well as the recovery time and pain control options.

In cases where an underlying neurologic problem exists, surgery may be needed again in the future due to the progression of the disease.

Coping

The primary challenge of living with high arches is finding the right shoe to support your foot and distribute your body weight evenly.

Oftentimes, the options found in regular shoe stores are far too shallow and promote rather than correct the outward sway of your ankles.

Moreover, because high-arch feet don't absorb shock well, hard-soled shoes may not only increase pain but transfer stress to the knees and hips.

To overcome these problems, invest in a pair of shoes that are properly fitted to your foot. If custom-made shoes are not in your budget, try visiting a specialty running shoe store, which is more likely to conduct a comprehensive foot analysis.

By finding a pair of shoes that provide optimal support and comfort, you will better understand what to look for in other shoes.

High-topped shoes or ankle boots can offer extra ankle support.

If a shoe doesn't offer enough support, you can usually find three-dimensional arch inserts at larger drugstores. Retailers like FootBalance make reasonably priced custom orthotics you can switch between shoes.

To prevent toe clenching, purchase a set of inexpensive neoprene or foam toe spacers that you can wear underneath your socks and shoes.

A Word From Verywell

If you have high arches, never ignore foot pain. By seeing a podiatrist early, you can keep your symptoms from getting worse and even correct structural abnormalities in your gait before they affect other joints.