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Pes cavus: causes, symptoms and treatment

by Alivia Nyhan
Published: Last Updated on

On the opposite side of what is called flat feet, we find the pes cavus, a foot anomaly in which the plantar arch is very high, being much higher than what can be observed in normal feet. This deformity can develop at any age and because the point of support of the foot is considerably reduced, it can cause pain in the front and back of the foot and increase the risk of other injuries such as heel pain, heel spurs, sprains, low back pain. , among other. For this reason, it is so important to go to the podiatrist as soon as possible and start the appropriate treatment, since in most cases it will be necessary to use insoles or orthopedic devices, perform therapeutic exercises and wear other types of footwear to prevent the condition from developing. agrave. At FastlyHealwe explain in detail what they arecavus foot causes, symptoms and treatment , pay attention!

Causas del pie hollow

The cavus is the standing plane and is a condition that may be caused by various factors, as explained below much less frequent foot anomaly.

On the one hand, in many cases the abnormal and excessive elevation of the plantar vault appears as a consequence of some type of neurological disease or disorder , such as suffering from cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, stroke, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease , spina bifida, among others.

In other cases, their condition is due to a hereditary structural abnormality . In addition, despite the fact that it has not been scientifically proven, specialists have pointed out that it is a condition that has a high family frequency, thus being more prone to suffering those people who have direct relatives with pes cavus.

It is also convenient to point out that there are cases in which the cause is idiopathic, this means that the exact factor that has caused this elevation of the plantar arch is unknown. In any case, whatever its origin, an accurate medical diagnosis is essential, since treatment will depend on the underlying cause and should be started as quickly as possible to prevent pes cavus from worsening.

Pes cavus symptoms

When you have cavus foot, you suffer from a dysfunction of the foot muscles, which is characterized specifically by an excessively raised plantar vault and an exaggerated convexity, which causes the foot support to be reduced to only two points, the metatarsal area, that is, the part under the toes, and the heel area.

This lack of support makes people with pes cavus much more unstable when walking and, in the long run, they experience symptoms such as those detailed below:

  • Shortening the length of the foot, resulting in what are called hammer toes or claw toes (bent inward or like a fist).
  • Pains in the pads of the sole of the foot, because the metatarsal area is one of the only points of support for the foot.
  • Pain in the heel area, which is what is medically referred to as heel pain, and / or the appearance of calcaneal spurs .
  • Appearance of calluses in the support areas, due to the excessive load to which they are subjected.
  • Tiredness and difficulties in standing without moving.
  • Difficulty putting on shoes properly.
  • Constant low back pain. This occurs because the stress suffered by the sole in a pes cavus ends up being transferred to the Achilles tendon and the rest of the posterior leg muscles.
  • The lack of support that exists also makes the affected person more prone to sprains and other knee injuries.
  • In the most severe cases, it is possible to develop osteoarthritis in the joints of the foot.

In addition to these cavus foot symptoms, some patients may experience a foot drop, causing the foot and ankle muscles to become excessively weak, thus causing the foot to drag to take a step when walking. Generally, this is a sign associated with the existence of an underlying neurological disorder.

Tests to diagnose pes cavus

It is important to say that two different types of cavus feet are observed: the posterior cavus foot , in which there is a greater drop in the heel area; and the anterior cavus foot , which, on the contrary, has a greater fall in the metatarsal area and claw toes are usually present. The latter is the form that occurs most frequently, although it is also possible that there are cases in which both types occur at the same time.

To carry out the medical diagnosis, the specialist reviews the patient’s medical history in detail, examines the foot to see if there is a plantar arch that is too high, as well as if there are calluses or the fingers are excessively flexed. In addition, the way of walking, the coordination of the person and the muscular resistance of the foot should be considered. It is very likely that X-rays are recommended for the diagnosis to be accurate and safe, these can be exclusively of the foot, of the entire lower limb or also of other parts such as the spine.

Treatment of pes cavus

In general, cavus feet do not usually cause much discomfort, unless they are caused by a neurological disease. In any case, the treatment will largely depend on the type of pes cavus that is present, as well as the severity of the symptoms and the state in which the foot is.

There are different recommended treatments to alleviate the pain and symptoms caused by this foot abnormality, as well as to prevent the condition from worsening. It is important to follow the instructions of the doctor or podiatrist in all cases and carry out the treatments prescribed by them.

  • Use of custom orthopedic insoles: made to measure insoles are placed inside the footwear so that the load received by the foot is distributed evenly and there is greater stability and cushioning when walking.
  • Change your footwear: It is essential to make changes to your usual footwear and, instead, opt for shoes that are comfortable, flexible and that allow full mobility of the foot, especially in the front part. The use of orthopedic shoes that have a high last or thicker and wider soles may also be recommended.
  • Orthosis: the specialist may advise the use of an orthopedic device to give the foot and ankle more stability and try to correct, as far as possible, the foot drop.
  • Therapeutic exercises: there are certain stretching exercises, balance mobility that can be favorable for the pes cavus, as well as to achieve reeducation of the leg muscles.
  • Massotherapy: it is the grouping of different massage techniques for therapeutic purposes, very beneficial to promote the healing and rehabilitation of certain bodily injuries.
  • When cavus foot causes severe aches or pains, it can be soothing to walk barefoot on some surfaces such as sand, grass, or home rugs.

In which cases is surgery necessary?

Surgical intervention may be necessary in severe cases of pes cavus, in which the pain becomes chronic, is not reduced and stability cannot be improved by carrying out the aforementioned treatments.

The specialist will decide which surgical technique should be used depending on the particularities of each case and will proceed to correct all the causes of this deformity in the foot.

This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Pes cavus: causes, symptoms and treatment , we recommend that you enter our category of Bones, Joints and Muscles .

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