High Arches

High arches are often thought of as a great alternative to flat feet.  However, high arched, or cavoid, feet, cause plenty of their own problems.  A high arched foot is unstable as the body is balancing on just a small surface area of the foot, that being the heel and the ball of the foot.  This causes strain on the muscles in the lower limb as they try to stabilise the body on the foot.

High arched feet (or cavoid) often lead to clawed toes, as the toes grip the ground to increase stability.  The clawed digits can then cause fore-foot pain such as neuromas, corns and inflamed joints.
High arched feet can also cause jarring through the limbs, hips and into the lower back.  Many people with high arches do not pronate when their heels hit the ground. This lack of shock absorption results in impact injuries further up the body.

Your podiatrist can help to support your high arched feet, increasing their stability and decreasing the strain on the foot and lower limb.  Your podiatrist will also advise on appropriate shoes to help absorb shock whilst walking.