Can high foot arches be a problem too?

Key points in 30 seconds

1. Feet with arches that are too high can also cause trouble because they can't let impact flow through.
2. Calluses on the outer edge of the foot, frequent ankle sprains, and shoes worn down only on the outside are clues.
3. You can check with a wet footprint whether the middle connects.
4. If only one side keeps getting worse or the toes are curling, see a neurologist first.
5. They're treated the opposite way from flat feet — not with the same insoles.

What we often hear

• "The top of my foot is high, so shoes don't fit well."
• "The soles of my feet hurt when I walk a long time."
• "I hear flat feet are a problem, but is the opposite okay?"

Can high foot arches be a problem too?

They can. People usually only talk about flat feet with collapsed arches, but feet with arches that are too high can also cause trouble because they can't let impact flow through.

A foot with an excessively high arch is called a "cavus foot" (pes cavus).

The arch is a bridge-like structure that sinks slightly with each step to absorb impact. If it's too high, there's no room to sink, so the impact travels straight up.

What symptoms does it cause?

Calluses form easily on the outer edge of the foot, ankles get sprained often, and after a long walk the top of the foot and the outside of the calf hurt.

The area of the foot touching the ground is narrow, so the same weight is concentrated on a small area. That's why only certain spots hurt and calluses get thick.

Because the ankle tends to roll outward, sprains keep happening. If you've been writing it off as "I just have weak ankles," it's worth taking a look at the shape of your feet.

How can I check at home?

Wet your feet, step onto a dry floor, and look at the footprint. If only the front and heel show and the middle barely connects, your arches are on the high side.

The soles of shoes you've worn are a clue too. If only the outer edge is especially worn, it means your weight is going there.

But some feet look fine when standing and collapse when walking. So we look at the pressure on the soles both while you stand still and while you walk. Looking only while standing misses things.

⚠️ Are there cases where another doctor comes first?

Yes. If the arch keeps getting higher in only one foot, the toes are curling like hooks, or the ankle is getting weaker too, see a neurologist first.

Rarely, a nerve condition makes the foot take that shape. That's not something to handle with insoles; the cause needs to be found first.

If both sides have been similarly high since childhood without change, it's usually not that kind of case.

How do you treat it?

The key is spreading out the weight that's concentrated on a small area. We use insoles fitted to the shape of your soles, and loosen the stiff calves and soles.

They're treated the opposite way from flat feet. With flat feet, we support and raise the collapsed arch; with cavus feet, we fill in the middle that doesn't touch the ground so you step down more broadly. They're not the same insoles.

When the back of the calf is short, the arch looks even higher. We also give exercises to stretch that area.

What are the limits of this assessment?

This doesn't change the shape of the foot itself. It changes where the weight lands so that it hurts less.

One more note. We don't say that insoles will definitely make the pain go away. We fit them, have you wear them, and check together whether anything changes.

We don't see only low arches as a problem. When the arch is too high, it can't absorb impact, so the areas above take it instead.

If only the outer edge of your soles wears down or your feet tire quickly, come see us. High arches have things to look at too.

Results differ from person to person depending on foot shape and the cause.