Complications of High Arches: How to Relieve Foot Arch Pain

The arch of your foot refers to the area between the ball of your foot and your heel. While flat feet (no arches) causes problems, the opposite is also true: having arches that are too high is also problematic. Cavus foot 一 the official name for having high arches 一 can lead to foot pain and other complications.

Dr. Matthew Hinderland, Dr. Jordan Cameron, and Dr. Joseph Fleck offer personalized treatment plans to help you address foot pain related to high arches.

In the meantime, learn more about the complications of high arches.

Complications of high arches

High arches can cause more than just foot pain when walking or running. High arches can contribute to the development of several other foot conditions including:

Plantar fasciitis

Your plantar fascia is a ligament that connects your heel to your toes, and plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of that ligament. You might suspect you have plantar fasciitis if you experience sharp heel pain, especially with your first few steps each morning. 

Hammertoes

Hammertoes happen if your toes bend at the middle toe joint, creating a hammer-like appearance. Hammertoes can be painful, make it hard to wear shoes comfortably, and may require surgery.

Metatarsalgia

This condition also causes pain when you stand or walk, and it’s a result of inflammation in the ball of your foot. Metatarsalgia causes sharp shooting pains, pain that worsens when you walk, and a sensation of having a pebble in your shoe.

Ankle instability

High arches affect more than just your foot, but they can also impact your ankle. High arches can contribute to ankle instability, which increases your risk of spraining your ankle.

Fractures

High arches often cause underpronation 一 when your foot rolls outward and places additional pressure on your outer toes, including your metatarsal bones. That’s why people with high arches have an increased risk of developing hairline fractures on their metatarsal bones.

How to relieve foot arch pain

Here at the Foot and Ankle Institute of Colorado, our team of expert podiatrists has two goals. First, we want to alleviate foot pain associated with high arches, but we also want to treat any of the complications that have arisen because of your high arches. 

Treating high arches often starts with a pair of custom-made orthotics. Orthotics are specialty devices that slip into your shoes. There are many kinds of orthotics, including rigid orthotics and softer accommodative orthotics. These devices are created based on your unique foot anatomy and help hold your foot in the right position, help redistribute your weight evenly, and help prevent the complications of high arches.

Your Foot and Ankle Institute of Colorado provider may also recommend other treatments based on your symptoms. For example, we may recommend night splints to address plantar fasciitis, surgery for hammertoes, or physical therapy for other foot conditions. 

Take your next steps and say goodbye to foot pain

Don’t let high arches make walking painful! To find out which treatment is right for your high arches and to explore the benefits of orthotics, call our Colorado Springs, Colorado office at 719-745-8806 or book an appointment online today.