High Arches: What Are They?
Generally along the inner side of the foot, there is a gap between the ground and the foot. This is known as your arch. When standing, some people have high arches, some normal arches, others have low or no arches. This article deals primarily with high arches, also known as pes cavus in the medical community.
When individuals with high arches stand or walk, their ankles tend to roll slightly outwards. This can give them the appearance of the legs bowing outward. This altered alignment and altered mechanical approach to walking can cause painful problems.
What Problems Can High Arches Cause?
People with high arches often discover this problem when they go to the doctor for arch pain, heel pain or ball of foot pain. They may have a hard time finding shoes that fit properly through the instep, or the top of the foot. Ankle sprains are common in people with high arches and corns and calluses may develop under the bases of the first and fifth toes (fifth and first metatarsal heads) and at the heels.
People with high arches can develop plantar fasciitis, an inflammation of the plantar fascia. In these cases, high arched feet are often painful with the first step on the floor in the morning. The foot has been resting all night and the tissue through the arch, the plantar fascia, is usually in a shortened position and gets tight, especially in feet with high arches. When weight is put on the foot, the fascia is stretched and can cause a great deal of pain through the arches and the heels where it attaches. This may also occur when stretching the arches by going up stairs or any other situations that apply pressure on the arch. Heel spurs can develop at the plantar fascia attachment in people with high arches as well.
People who have high arches are at an increased risk for stress fractures in the bones of the feet. This is true because high arches are associated with poor shock absorption when your foot hits the ground. This force, when running, is equal to about three times your body weight and can fracture bones or damage muscles, nerves and tendons.
What Causes High Arches?
Some people are simply born with high arches. Many people with high arches begin to feel their first foot pain in their teen years because body weight increases at this stage and flexibility starts to decrease. Though it is more rare, major trauma can cause high arches to occur as well.
What Can We Do About High Arches?
Your doctor will take a look at your high arches to determine the right course of action. In most cases, foot orthotics or arch supports will be prescribed. Arch supports for high arches are designed to cushion the heel of your foot and help absorb shock. They also work to distribute your weight more evenly when walking.
Proper fitting footwear is always an important step in accommodating your high arches. Make sure your shoes fit properly, have a shock-absorbing sole, and are deep enough to fit a foot orthotic or arch support. Running shoes are usually best for feet with high arches.
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