Cavus Foot (High-Arched Foot)

Cavus Foot (High-Arched Foot)

Foot problems are extremely common, which means up to 87% of people will experience issues with their feet at some point in their lives. One such issue is called Cavus Foot or High-Arched Foot. This is a condition that causes high arches to develop, which can cause issues. Most people are diagnosed early in life, but it is estimated that about 1 in every 5 people have higher arches. However, Cavus Foot is more rare and usually requires treatment. 

What causes Cavus Foot? 

The main cause of Cavus Foot (High-Arched Foot) is genetics. Conditions like spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, Charcot-marie-tooth disease, cerebral palsy, and others can cause Cavus Foot. These conditions are present at birth and affect the patient throughout their life. Diseases like polio or strokes can also cause Cavus Foot. These can occur at any time and may cause high-arched feet to develop. At times, patients may also genetically inherit high arches but do not have any of these conditions. 

Symptoms of High-Arched Feet

So it can be somewhat easy to identify a patient with high arches, as they often visually appear to have very high arches on the feet. The ball of the foot and the heel touch the floor, while the area in between them rises in a high arch. Other symptoms may include bent toes (also called hammertoes), tightly flexed toes (also called claw toes), pain while walking or standing, large calluses or corns on the feet, and difficulty walking. Some patients also develop another condition called plantar fasciitis, which is essentially inflammation in the tendon that connects the ball of the foot to the heel. These symptoms can be difficult to live with and may be frustrating, especially for children who run and play most of the day. 

Treatment for Cavus Foot

There are two main types of treatments for cavus foot. For less severe cases, patients do not have to have surgery and can have much less invasive treatment plans. For more severe cases, these patients most likely have to have surgery to repair these issues. Some cases may try less invasive treatments first to avoid surgery but may need it later on. 

Less Severe Cases

For the less invasive treatments of Cavus Foot (High-Arched Foot), doctors often recommend fitting the patient with custom orthotics. These are specialized shoes that support the high arch and help the patient walk without pain. This can often keep the symptoms from worsening. Other more difficult treatments include bracing the foot and physical therapy to stretch the tendon that keeps the arch so high. Some patients may also benefit from pain medications, steroid shots, and using ice or heat on the arch if it is painful. 

Severe Cavus Foot

If a patient does not experience relief from lesser treatment plans, most likely the next recommendation is surgery. The main surgery for cavus foot has two parts that take place about two weeks apart. The initial procedure is relatively simple, where the surgeon will go in and release the tendon that pulls the arch so tight. This is usually a short procedure, and the patient will wait two weeks for the other soft tissues to relax and become moldable. The second portion of the procedure focuses on rebuilding the arch to be less high and more comfortable. This takes longer as it is rebuilding and shaping the foot, but it will hopefully mold the muscles and tissues into the ideal shape, and it should resolve many (if not all) of the patient’s issues. 

Consultation 

For many patients and parents of patients, it can be difficult to decide what to do about cavus foot. How can you know what will be best for you or your child? At Orthopaedic Associates of Riverside, we make sure to examine and prepare the best treatment plan for each patient. Contact us today for a consultation, and get started on the path to healing.