Is Having a High Arch Worse than a Flat Foot? - Lewis Nurney, Singapore Podiatrist

Flat Feet (Pes Planus)

Flat foot is a very common condition in Singapore. This is due to the genetic demographics of the region where this type of foot may be hereditary, acquired or due to ligamentous laxity. The artificial surfaces we walk upon every day expose our feet to greater wear and tear or degeneration.

There are 2 kinds of flat feet:

1. Congenital flat foot is hereditary and present in varying degrees of severity in children as young as 2 years old. In most paediatric flat feet cases, the child may appear to have arches while they are seated or standing on tiptoes. The medial arch only collapses when the child stands up. Flat-footed individuals may also be diagnosed with hypermobility, a condition related to the laxity of ligaments. This laxity can also cause problems elsewhere in the lower limbs, such as the knees and hips.

2. Adult-acquired flat foot can be caused by conditions such as posterior tibial tendon dysfunction (PTTD), arthritis, injury or diabetes. If untreated, the affected foot may deform and collapse more and more over time. This can result in loss of mobility, postural changes, and pain all the way up to the spine.

Foot Orthotics
Customising insoles for flat feet is a common treatment to address the issue. These customised foot orthoses are prescription-only medical devices tailored for individual patient needs to address specific foot pathology. The podiatrist will decide on the materials, densities and designs of the orthotics depending on the medical requirements and lifestyle choices of the patient. Due to advancements in technology and manufacturing, specific custom foot orthoses can also be fitted into pumps, court shoes, and even specialised footwear like soccer boots or hockey shoes.

Painful High Arches (Cavus Foot)

The foot is the foundation of the whole body. Fallen arches put the feet out of alignment. Consequently, greater stress is placed on other joints in the body to help compensate. This is often the cause of soft tissue pathology; the two most common ones are Achilles tendonitis (tendon overuse injury) or Plantar fasciitis (inflammation of the fascia).

The foot is generally divided into three main arch types, low, normal and high arch. The high arch foot type is also known as the pes cavus or cavoid foot. In a high arch foot, excessive weight is placed on the ball and heel of the foot when walking or standing, leading to problems such as foot pain, gait instability, metatarsalgia or plantar fasciitis. Problems associated with a high arch can develop at any age in either one foot or both feet.

Whilst high arch foot is a structural presentation of the foot, it may also be suggestive of other medical conditions, especially those associated with neurological (nerves) conditions, to clinicians. Some of these conditions include cerebral palsy, polio, muscular dystrophy and/or stroke. In some cases, a high arch is inherited through either parent. If you or your child has been identified as having a high arch, you should seek out a health professional such as a podiatrist to ensure that there are no underlying medical issues that are detrimental to your foot health.

See a Podiatrist today!

EAST COAST PODIATRY CENTRE ( ECPC )

  / eastcoastpodiatrycentre  

www.EastCoastPodiatry.sg | email: [email protected]

Clinic Locations:

Orchard Clinic
302 Orchard Road . Tong Building #09-02 . Singapore 238862
Tel: (+65) 6884 4123

Kembangan Clinic
18 Jalan Masjid . Kembangan Plaza # B1-02/04/05 . Singapore 418944
Tel: (+65) 6848 5156

Novena Clinic
10 Sinaran Drive . Novena Medical Center #08-12/13 . Singapore 307506
Tel: (+65) 6235 2132