Relief for High Arches and Foot Pain

What You Need To Know

Understanding high arches, why they cause pain, and how we can help.

High Arches (Cavus Foot) Care

High arched feet, also called cavus feet, is as the name implies, a disorder caused by an abnormally high arch of the foot. This causes excess amounts of weight to be placed on the ball and heel of the foot, which can cause pain and other complications. High arches usually manifest in the teenage years, though they can appear later in adulthood as well.

The arch of the foot is made up of the tarsal and metatarsal bones along with a number of tendons and ligaments. The arches help support the body and maintain balance, both when stationary and when walking, running, jumping, pivoting, or turning. When the arch is too high, that support and weight distribution is thrown off.

Common symptoms of high arches include pain in the feet when walking, standing, exercising, or playing sports, shoes that do not fit well, a shortened foot length, claw-like or bent toes, heels that tilt inward causing loss of balance, and calluses on the ball, side, or heel of the foot.

High arches could be genetic and run in families. They can also be caused by neurologic disorders or other medical conditions such as cerebral palsy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, spina bifida, and polio. Because there are many sources of arch pain, a careful diagnosis by a foot doctor is the best way to identify the problem. We will examine your foot carefully and make imaging tests such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs if necessary to guide the right treatment plan.

Problems Caused by High Arches

High arches, if they are severe, can cause a lot of painful foot conditions, as they affect posture and gait. Understanding these related problems can help you recognize when it is time to seek care.

Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common complications. Overuse or trauma to the plantar fascia, the band of ligament that connects the heel to the toes, can cause pain and inflammation. It is usually along the heel but can affect the bottom of the entire foot or the arch. Metatarsalgia, a painful inflammation of the ball of the foot, is another frequent issue. It gets triggered when standing or walking and subsides when at rest, and over time can cause a limp and compensation pain in the lower back and hips.

High arches can also lead to toe deformities. Claw toes take on a claw-like position and dig into the soles of the shoes, often affecting the four smaller toes and causing painful calluses. Hammer toe affects the second, third, or fourth toes, bending at the middle joint and, in time, becoming rigid enough to require surgery.

Foot and ankle instability is another concern. In people with high arches, one or both heels tilt toward the middle of the body, increasing the risk of ankle sprains. You can help prevent arch pain by wearing properly fitting shoes with good arch support and avoiding unsupportive footwear like flip-flops. With the right combination of supportive footwear, orthotics, and podiatric care, most patients see meaningful relief over time.