How and Why Do High Arched Feet Need Orthotics
Cause: Neuromuscular pathology appears to be causative in many Cavus foot types, but not so obvious in others. Variations of Polio are rarely observed today, CMT Charot Mari-Tooth Disease, PMD Peroneal Muscular Dystrophy, and many upper motor neuron lesions patients, can all form a pathologically high arched foot. When no neuro-muscular pathology can be identified, the condition is usually more moderate in nature and is referred to as Idiopathic Cavus Foot.
If it is so obvious why patients with flat feet need orthotics, it must be somewhat illogical that patients with high, or very high arches, would also need orthotics.
The actual science that supports the belief that high arched feet need orthotics, is more complicated than you or your physician might imagine. Suffice it to say that high arched patients do eventually benefit from orthotics, ONLY with much more correction than the patients with flat feet, and much later on in life.
Can you use orthotics for high arches?
Use of orthotics for flat feet makes sense. Use of orthotics for high arches not so obvious. In fact patients with high arches don’t usually present with chronic foot pain until later during adult life, when conditions like Morton’s Neuroma and Plantar Fasciitis can be disabling. Patients with high arches do however experience a variety of chronic, knee and back issues during adolescence and early adult life, associated with high arches.
When do patients with high arches need orthotics?
Generally later in life, patients with high arches, develop chronic symptoms, associated with a variety of chronic foot and ankle conditions. ( Plantar Fasciitis, Achilles Tendonitis, Hallux Limitus / Exostosis, Hammer Digit Syndrome, Posterior Tibial Dysfunction, Tarsal Tunnel Syndromes) Even one of the most common disabling conditions known as Morton’s Neuroma will respond the higher levels of Theta correction. Orthotics are most commonly use for the treatment of high arches after a patients is in their 40’s or 50’s.
When sufficient angular correction is used in the orthotics design, treatment for mild moderate and extremely high arches is possible and highly beneficial. Theta Orthotics is the only foot control device that I have seen, that is capable of controlling patient’s with high arches.
How much orthotics correction is needed for High arches?
In the Theta system, 27, 32, and 37 degree orthotics control high to very high arches and provide the necessary correction to change gait and stop the pain of Morton’s Neuroma, even when both conservative and invasive treatments have failed. When traditional orthotics from all other sources are used, angular corrections with 12- 22 degrees of correction, don’t control high arches and don’t stop the pain. If attempts to use orthotics have failed to help your high arches in the past. If you wear orthotics because they help with other issues like plantar fasciitis, but don’t provide much help with nerve pain in the ball of your foot. Then your high arches need orthotics with MORE correction, enough to stop the progression of Morton’s Neuroma.
Patients with very high arched feet require correction levels 27-5.5 or above before clinical improvement is observed. When correction levels are between 27-5.5 and 37-9.5 even extremely high arched patients will report significant benefits associated with full time use.
Dr. Jarrett, Twenty years ago, you treated me for Pes Cavus, with stage 4 (37 degree) urethane orthotics.
(11/07/11 ) I currently wear the stage 3 (32) and stage 4 (37) daily. These orthotics have worked well. They are showing some wear. I just placed an order on your web site for two more pair of your stage 4 urethane Digital Theta’s Dr. D.Edgar Allen M.D. (Intermountain Skin, Cancer and Esthetics center)
Edgar, It has been about 20 years, now that is cost effective medicine. As you know I closed my surgical practice almost 10 years ago. I have been doing full time basic, and clinical research since that time. As a result changes have been made and things look , feel, and function differently. Most important for you is that there is now a forefoot addition, different from yours. This addition is highly functional and requires a gradual adjustment even when you have been wearing my 40 degree Stage 4 standard 3/4 for 20 years.Theta-Orthotics are now made from Digital not Human contours and designs. Conceptualized 12 years ago all of the technology came together this last year. Let me know how you do. Brent
12/3/11 Dear Brent, The 37’s feel great. Thank you for your good work and the excellent orthotics. Edgar
Theta can treat the high arched foot better than any other orthotic in the world.
Dr Allen in the case above had consulted with multiple orthopedic and podiatric physicians. He had tried OTC and prescription orthotics from 3 or 4 sources. When he first came to me he wore a pair of hard plastic prescription orthotics from his previous podiatrist, during most all weight bearing activity. They were the best he had found and better than insoles or nothing. For the last 20 years he has worn a 32 and 37 degree Theta Orthotic. He is a perfect example of how all patients with high arched feet get improved function and less pain with every 5 additional degrees of Theta correction up to 37 degrees.
Help for high arches that is NOT available with any other treatment.
