High Arched Foot
High arched foot, also known as cavus feet, is a disorder characterized by an abnormally high arch in the foot (as the name implies). This causes excess amounts of weight to be placed on the ball and heel of the foot, which can cause pain. Cavus foot can develop at any age, though it’s most commonly inherited at birth. WebMD reports that high arch feet are inherited by 68% of women, and 20% of men. 99% of women under 60 with the disorder inherit it from their parents, as do 63% of men. Outside of genetics, cavus foot can be caused by a myriad of neurological disorders and other medical conditions. Cerebral palsy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, spina bifida, polio, muscular dystrophy, and strokes are some of the most common disorders and conditions that cause cavus foot. This make accurately diagnosing cavus foot incredibly important, as it may be an early sign of a very difficult disorder. Cases of cavus foot caused by a neurological disorder are likely to worsen over time, but cavus foot will likely remain the same when caused by a medical condition or inheritance.
Cavus foot will cause pain when walking, especially over long periods. Severe cases of cavus foot will cause discomfort and pain while standing, often centered in the heel. Cavus foot can lead to calluses on the ball, heel, and toes, as while as deformity of the toes. Hammertoes (toes that appear bent) and claw toes (toes clenched like a fist) are common symptoms of cavus foot. Ankle sprains4r% are also sometimes caused by cavus foot, as the disorder can lead to imbalance and instability because of forward tilt. In rare cases, cavus foot leads to foot drop or weakness in the muscles of the feet that lead to dragging while walking. Foot drop is almost always a sign of a neurological condition.