Fallen arches get all the wrap for causing feet issues and potential mobility problems. But the opposite is also true — high arches can be just as bad for your foot health and ability to move. Fortunately, at Chestnut Hill Podiatry Associates, serving Philadelphia, & Huntingdon Valley, PA, and the nearby region, a foot and ankle surgeon from our office can help improve this condition. Still, it's vital to understand how this problem can affect you first.

General Information

 High arches occur when the part of your foot between the ball and heel is higher off the floor than average. You can tell if you have this issue by doing the following:

1. Stand in front of a concrete surface, a dark, non-shiny floor, or even a piece of paper. 
2. Dampen your foot.
3. Step on the surface in front of you.
4. Take a step back and see what kind of print you left.

 You have high arches if you only left a print with the ball of your foot and the heel. After this, we urge you to book a visit with a foot and ankle surgeon at our practice, which has locations in Philadelphia and Huntingdon Valley, PA. We can then tell you for certain if you have a high arch and to what degree.

How High Arches Affect Foot Health

 Because you're placing pressure on certain parts of your foot you usually wouldn't; you could develop corns or calluses, which can become painful.

You could also suffer from plantar fasciitis, where the fascia (connective tissue extending from your heel to your toes) becomes inflamed. You could experience hammertoes or claw toes, which are toe deformities that can affect how you walk and may cause pain. 

High arches may lead to ankle instability and make you more susceptible to an injury to this joint, such as a sprain. As your foot undergoes more stress in certain areas due to its shape, you could develop hairline fractures in the bones.

Sometimes, conditions that affect your feet can affect your ability to walk and perform normal daily tasks. You could have trouble finding supportive, comfortable, and fit-proper shoes. You could strain your lower back, hips, and legs as well because high arches can have a domino effect on your extremities.

A foot and ankle surgeon from Chestnut Hill Podiatry Associates, serving Philadelphia, & Huntingdon Valley, PA, can help fit you for proper shoes and with any issues that arise from this issue.

Contact one of our locations for an appointment today:

215-247-0879 - Germantown Ave

215-379-5112 - Huntington Valley