High arch is an 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 are more likely to 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:
High arches, particularly ones that are flexible or well cared for, may not need any treatment.
Corrective shoes may help relieve pain and improve walking. This includes changes to the shoes, such as an arch insert and a support insole.
Surgery to flatten the foot is sometimes needed in severe cases. Any nerve problems that exist must be treated and monitored by specialists.
Phinit Phisitkul is an Orthopedics specialist and a Podiatric Surgeon in Sioux City, Iowa. Phisitkul has been practicing medicine for over 27 years and is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of High Arch. He is also highly rated in 10 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are High Arch, Flat Feet, Hammer Toe, Endoscopy, and Hip Replacement. He is licensed to treat patients in Iowa. Phisitkul is currently accepting new patients.
Harry Visser is a Podiatric Medicine specialist and a Podiatric Surgeon in Saint Louis, Missouri. Visser has been practicing medicine for over 45 years and is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of High Arch. He is also highly rated in 6 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are High Arch, Tendinitis, Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome, Plantar Fasciitis, and Bone Graft. He is licensed to treat patients in Missouri. Visser is currently accepting new patients.
Andrew Buldt practices in Melbourne, Australia. Buldt is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of High Arch. He is also highly rated in 2 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are High Arch, Flat Feet, Down Syndrome, and Osteoarthritis.
The outlook depends on the condition causing high arches. In mild cases, wearing proper shoes and arch supports may provide relief.
Complications may include:
Call 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.
Summary: The goal of this project is to validate a new non-invasive clinical imaging system to evaluate the efficacy of plantar orthotics and to assess the biomechanical efficiency of plantar orthotics for people with flat or high arch feet. The Cryovizion system should detect changes in participants' posture with an accuracy of 95%, while orthotics should improve the body's postural symmetry index.
Summary: As off-the-counter foot orthoses are readily available and have an economic advantage, they are increasingly being used by healthcare professionals to treat mechanical foot pains in place of custom foot orthosis. However, there is a lack of available evidence to determine if a plain off-the-counter foot orthosis that aims to contours to the foot or a specifically optimized off-the-counter foot ort...
Published Date: November 12, 2020
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 Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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