Cavus Feet
Cavus feet are the opposite of flat (planus) feet. People with this foot type tend to excessively load and apply force to the heels, and balls of their feet. There is a much higher incidence of Achilles tendinits, and plantar fasciitis in individuals with a cavus foot structure. Please review below for more information on specific problems associated with painful tall arches.
Doctor Adams is a Fellowship Trained Foot and Ankle Surgeon that is well versed in complex adult and pediatric foot and ankle deformities. Dr. Adams sees patients with neurologic problems that cause unstable tall arches.
If you have painful cavus feet, and have questions or concerns, please feel free to call Doctor Adams at (317) 477-6683 or schedule a consultation online.
Dr. Adams is a born and raised Hoosier. He attended Indiana University-Bloomington where he met his wife Allison. He got degrees in Nutrition Science, Biology and Chemistry. Dr. Adams then got his doctorate from Kent State College of Podiatric Medicine where he was a Dean’s List student. He then came back to Indianapolis to do his residency surgical training and was Chief resident. He stayed in Indianapolis and completed a specialty Fellowship focusing on Adult and Pediatric Reconstruction. During his Fellowship Dr. Adams helped launch the first foot and ankle dedicated surgical practice at Hancock Orthopedics, and has been employed there since.
Dr. Adams enjoys teaching as he helps educate and train the surgical residents at Community Health Network, and the Fellows at American Health Network. He actively participates in research and editing for national peer reviewed journals.
He is also a consultant for orthopedic device companies where he is afforded the opportunity to help train and design with other surgeons across the country.
Dr. Adams has special interests in the following areas:
Dr. Adams is a father of two and resides with his family in Fishers. He enjoys the short commute to Hancock Health in Greenfield.
Cavus (High Arch) Feet
The cavus, or often described by the layman as a “high arched” foot, can be a complicated one. There can be scenarios where the arch is exaggerated due to a neurologic condition that has been previously diagnosed such as Charcot Marie Tooth, or potentially never addressed/diagnosed by a physician. There are however plenty of healthy individuals that were simply born with cavus feet (tall arches). The reason this topic is often discussed by foot and ankle surgeons is because they are on the opposite end of the spectrum as flat feet, and can become very symptomatic at times.
It is important to keep in mind that simply because you have a cavus foot type does not mean you will necessarily ever develop foot, or ankle pain. In the individuals that do it is often associated with overuse syndromes. It is often observed in people that work on hard surfaces, or are potentially athletes training on hard surfaces. Individuals with cavus feet more often have complaints of ankle instability, and lateral column pain (pain along the outside of your foot near the 5th toe).
There are many conservative and surgical treatment options for individuals with painful cavus feet. One common misconception that exists is that individuals with cavus feet will do well with orthotics. This is only partially true. Orthotics can be very effective in helping alleviate foot pain in people with tall arches, however the orthotic needs to be unique to people with that foot type. An orthotic made for a person with a flat foot will cause more pain and symptoms in someone with the opposite. Cavus feet individuals often need accommodative orthotics that are softer. These orthotics or inserts attempt to redistribute pressure more medially, or back to the inside of the foot. Patients with cavus feet tend to put a lot of weight along the outside of their feet, and we often observe the outer sole of the shoe being significantly more worn than the arch or instep. Many times during childhood people with a cavus foot structure will be told they are “pigeon toed”, or possibly “bow legged” (genu varum).
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