MD Podiatrist Discusses Cavus Feet

Dan Michaels, DPM says high arches are mostly congenital. “It has to do with the structure of the foot developed during the fetal stage,” he explains. “Short plantar fascias, tight Achilles tendons or calf muscles are the most common causes. There are also some patients with skeletal abnormalities within the foot itself.”
 

Per Dr. Michaels, when the angle between the heel bone (which sits at an incline and the forefoot which sits at a decline) is excessively high, it causes the foot to bear weight unevenly. “Many patients have an increase in stress in the forefoot right before propulsion and complain of pain in the metatarsal area (the ball of the foot). Because of the high angle, the extensor tendons gain an advantage and create hammertoe deformities.”