High-Arched Feet Explained
Posted on: 12 August 2015
When the arches of your feet are too high, your heels and the balls of your feet experience too much stress when you stand or walk as a result of your weight being unevenly distributed. The arches of your feet would normally provide the surrounding muscles with support and add stability to your joints, but overarched feet can lead to muscle weakness.
There's not always an identifiable cause for your arches deepening, but one common cause is the development of a neurological disorder, such as a stroke or muscular dystrophy, that's associated with poor muscle co-ordination and weakness. Anyone who develops high-arched feet should be tested for common neurological disorders as the arches can continue to deepen if the underlying medical condition is not treated.
Here's an overview of the symptoms and treatment options associated with high-arched feet:
Symptoms
High-arched feet can develop suddenly and sufferers typically experience foot pain and a feeling of tightness along the arches of their feet. The changes to the muscles in your feet can cause your heels to turn inward, and this can shift your joints out of alignment and leave you prone to going over on your ankle when you walk.
Due to the increased pressure on the front of your feet, it's common to experience blisters and calluses, which may not heal easily without taking time off your feet. Muscle weakness can also lead to your toe joints being pulled upwards, which can cause a condition known as hammer toes. With hammer toes, your toes curl under and this can make walking difficult and wearing shoes can become uncomfortable.
Treatment
Podiatrists like McLean & Partners can treat the symptoms of high-arched feet in a number of ways. They can show you how to do stretching and strengthening exercises, which can prevent the condition from worsening by loosening tight muscle in your feet.
A podiatrist can also measure you for custom orthotic insoles, which can alter the way your weight is distributed across your feet, provide extra support to your joints and reduce the pressure on the heels and balls of your feet. Orthotic insoles simply slip into your shoes can be used with prescription shoes, which may be recommended if your toes have curled under. Prescription shoes have a larger toe box, which can prevent your toes from rubbing on the top of the shoes and make walking more comfortable.
Your podiatrist may also suggest you use a foot brace, which can provide extra stability and help the joints in your feet to stay aligned.
If you're concerned about the arches of your feet, or if you're experiencing any foot pain, schedule an appointment with your podiatrist as soon as possible.
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