![]() Both foot shapes would benefit from intrinsic foot strengthening with a specialty focus on either mobilization or stabilization, depending on the foot’s shape. In contract, a flat foot typically means that the foot is more prone to being unstable, meaning that stabilization exercises are beneficial. However, in general, a high arch tends to mean that the foot is more rigid, meaning it might benefit from mobilization exercises for optimal function. In other words, we’re not going to be able to say that high arches are always preferred to flat feet, or vice versa. It’s important to remember that every person is different, and one person may be more troubled by a certain foot shape than another simply because of genetics, their gait or how stress has been dispersed on their foot over the years. But is one condition better than the other? Is it better to have high arches or flat feet? We answer that question and discuss optimal foot shapes in today’s blog. Perhaps the foot area that varies the most from person to person is the arch, as some people have extremely high arches while others have relatively no arch, known as flat foot. The structure and loading patterns of a high arch foot also make it more susceptible to: ankle sprains fractures on the outside of the fifth metatarsal ( Jones fractures) and pain directly under the great toe ( sesamoiditis).Our feet come in all different shapes and sizes. Compression forces are increased on the inside of the ankle, which makes damage to the inside (medial) aspect of the ankle joint more common potentially leading to talar osteochondral injuries or even ankle arthritis. ![]() Traction forces lead to repetitive loading of the tendons on the outside of the foot and therefore predispose patients to develop peroneal tendonitis. The excess loading on the base of the big toe can predispose people to develop sesamoiditis and sesamoid fractures. High Arch Foot SymptomsĪ high arched foot predisposes an individual to a variety of symptoms because of the manner in which this type of foot absorbs force. This causes the base of the great toe to take a great deal of force, which can be the cause of a number of problems including sesamoiditis and sesamoid stress fractures. This part of the foot acts “like a kickstand” to tip the heel in an inward (varus) position. Instead, it is quite rigid and often pointed downward (plantar flexed). Unlike in a flatfoot the medial column of a high arch foot is not loose and floppy. ![]() Figure 1A, 1B, 1C: Hindfoot Varus, Peek-a-Boo Heel Sign, and High Arched Foot Imprint (Harris Mat) ![]() If the inside edge of the heel is visible from the front (this is known as a peek-a-boo heel), then the individual likely has an inwardly pointed heel (varus heel) (Figure 1B). ![]() This foot position can be easily identified on examination by looking at the feet head on with the patient standing. The heel tends to be pointed inward in what is known as a varus position (Figure 1A). Characteristics of a High Arched Foot (Subtle Cavus)Ī high arch foot is known in medical terms as a “subtle cavus foot.” People with high arch feet tend to be very stiff through the midfoot, with very little movement through the main midfoot joints (ex. ![]()
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