High Arch Overview
Learn About High Arch
High arch is a foot arch that is raised more than normal. The arch runs from the toes to the heel on the bottom of the foot. It is also called pes cavus.
High arch is the opposite of flat feet.
Pes cavus; High foot arch
High foot arches are much less common than flat feet. They can be caused by a bone (orthopedic) or nerve (neurological) condition.
Unlike flat feet, highly arched feet tend to be painful. This is so because more stress is placed on the section of the foot between the ankle and toes (metatarsals). This condition can make it difficult to fit into shoes. People who have high arches most often need foot support. A high arch may cause disability.
Symptoms include:
- Shortened foot length
- Difficulty fitting shoes
- Foot pain with walking, standing, and running (not everyone has this symptom)
High arches, particularly ones that are flexible or well cared for, may not need any treatment.
Orthotics that can be placed in shoes may help the symptoms of high arches. Corrective shoes may help relieve pain and improve walking. This includes changes to the shoes, such as an arch insert and a supportive insole.
Surgery to flatten the foot is sometimes needed in severe cases. Any nerve problems that exist must be treated and monitored by specialists.
Alessio Bernasconi practices in Naples, Italy. Bernasconi and is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of High Arch. His top areas of expertise are High Arch, Flat Feet, Hammer Toe, Osteotomy, and Bone Graft.
Harry Visser is a Podiatric Medicine specialist and a Podiatric Surgeon in Creve Coeur, Missouri. Dr. Visser and is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of High Arch. His top areas of expertise are High Arch, Tendinitis, Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome, and Ledderhose Disease. Dr. Visser is currently accepting new patients.
University Of Vermont Medical Center Inc
Mark Charlson is a Podiatric Surgeon and an Orthopedics provider in Burlington, Vermont. Dr. Charlson and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of High Arch. His top areas of expertise are Clubfoot, Tendinitis, Achilles Tendon Rupture, High Arch, and Hip Replacement. Dr. Charlson is currently accepting new patients.
The outlook depends on the condition causing high arches. In mild cases, wearing proper shoes and arch supports may provide relief.
Complications may include:
- Chronic pain
- Difficulty walking
Contact your provider if you think you have foot pain related to high arches.
People with highly arched feet should be checked for nerve and bone conditions. Finding these other conditions may help prevent or reduce arch problems, and other orthopedic conditions.
Summary: While various complex pathologies of the developmental age, such as Infantile Cerebral Palsy or Neuromuscular Diseases, are notoriously considered causes of alteration of locomotor development, it is scarcely known whether conditions much more frequent in the pediatric population, the so-called Paramorphisms or Dysmorphisms, may be associated with more or less noticeable changes in locomotor devel...
Summary: The use of bio-integrative implants in orthopedic surgery is growing exponentially. As many biomechanical and histological studies were able to sustain its structural and biological properties, few clinical studies are available to support its advantages, such as good osteosynthesis, lower rates of removal, and diminished implant-related artifact in imaging studies. This information is vital to pr...
Published Date: November 07, 2024
Published By: C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, San Francisco, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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Grear BJ. Neurogenic disorders. In: Azar FM, Beaty JH, eds. Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 87.
McClincy MP, Olgun ZD, Dede O. Orthopedics. In: Zitelli BJ, McIntire SC, Nowalk AJ, Garrison J, eds. Zitelli and Davis' Atlas of Pediatric Physical Diagnosis. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 22.