Pes Cavus Foot Deformity

Quick answer: Need a podiatrist’s opinion on this? Call Balance Foot & Ankle at (810) 206-1402 for same-week appointments in Howell or Bloomfield Township, Michigan. Most insurance accepted, including Medicare.

✅ Medically reviewed by Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM — Board-Certified Podiatrist · Last updated April 6, 2026

Pes Cavus Foot Deformity Treatment [High Arch Feet]

What is pes cavus? We review how to treat pes cavus, the best shoes for a pes cavus foot deformity, and the best insoles!

How to treat a pes cavus foot deformity video:

What is pes cavus & pes cavus treatment video summary:

🦶Do you have painful high arches or high arch feet? We go over the BEST Pes Cavus Foot Deformity Treatments!🦶 A pes cavus deformity or pes cavus foot type can be related to over supination of the foot. This can be related to high arches & a high arched foot type. We go over the best running shoes for high arches & best orthotics for high arches. 0:00 High Arch Feet & Best Shoes for High Arches 1:03 How to tell if you have high arches? 1:26 Supination vs. Pronation & High Arch Feet vs. Flat Feet 2:25 Pes Cavus Foot vs. Flat Foot Pain 3:33 pronation & supination of the foot 3:40 Pes cavus deformity podiatrist treatment 3:55 Nerve conditions & Pes cavus foot deformity 4:05 Charcot Marie Tooth Disease 4:35 Pes cavus foot deformity 5:01 Pes Cavus foot deformity 6:22 Pes cavus deformity causes 7:13 Pes cavus surgery & high arch foot deformity 8:00 High arch foot deformity 8:35 High arch foot pain relief 9:11 High arch foot massage & stretches 10:11 Best High arch foot slippers 10:30 Best high arch sandals 11:00 Best walking shoes for high arches 11:30 Best running shoes for high arches 13:16 Best orthotics for high arches 13:25 Best insoles for high arches 14:42 Best custom high arch insoles 14:58 High arch foot type and nerve disease 15:54 Cross-training 16:53 Best high arch foot exercises & Pes cavus exercises.

What is a pes cavus deformity of the foot?

In Latin, Pes cavus means “hollow foot.” It basically means the same thing as having high arches, having high arched feet, and supinated foot type. Pes cavus is a multiplanar foot deformity characterized by an abnormally high medial longitudinal arch. A Pes cavus foot deformity commonly features a turned in hindfoot or calcaneus, a plantarflexed position of the first metatarsal (big toe joint pressed into the ground), adducted forefoot (forefoot turned inward, and dorsal contracture of the toes (hammertoes or claw toes). Despite numerous reported studies, very few high-level studies exist toward treating a high arch foot type.

Pain in the arch of the foot:

You spend a huge portion of your life on your feet, so working with any problems there can be challenging.

• Foot problems are much more common than you’d think.
• A study performed in November of 2010 found that foot disorders affected 20-60% of all adults. This means almost 60 million people in America were affected by foot disorders in the USA.
• One of the most common foot issues that people are faced with is high arch feet.
• While they may not seem like a huge problem, especially because people with high arch feet live their entire lives, they can cause many problems over time.

High arch feet symptoms:

• High arches & high arch feet can cause the following problems:
• Plantar fasciitis.
• Heel Pain.
• Bottom of the heel spurs.
• Back of the heel spurs.
• Metatarsalgia.
• Ball of the foot pain.
• Morton's neuroma pain.

High Arch Feet Problems:

High arched feet, also known as a pes cavus deformity, a pes cavus foot, or cavus feet, are a disorder characterized by an abnormally high arch in the foot.

• High arches cause excess amounts of weight to be placed on the ball of the foot and heel of the foot.
• A pes cavus foot deformity can develop at any age, though it’s most commonly inherited at birth.
• This article & source reports that almost 70% of women and 20% of high arch feet are inherited. 99% of women under 60 inherit cavus feet from their parents, as do 63% of men.

What causes pes cavus:

Outside of genetics, cavus foot can be caused by various neurological disorders and other medical conditions.

• Cerebral palsy (acquired at birth),
• Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (a genetic nerve disease),
• Spina bifida (a condition acquired at birth),
• Polio (acquired during life),
• Muscular dystrophy (a genetic condition),
• Vascular or hemorrhagic strokes (acquired during life),
• And many more conditions.
• It is said that up to 85% of cavus feet can be related to neurological issues.

Cases of cavus foot caused by a neurological disorder are likely to worsen over time. For this reason, it is essential to see a podiatrist and have your foot type diagnosed and taken care of.

Signs of pes cavus high arches:

Cavus foot will cause pain when walking, especially over long periods. Severe pes cavus foot deformity cases will cause discomfort and pain while standing, often centered in the heel. Cavus foot can lead to calluses & corns on the ball, heel, and toes, as while as deformity of the toes. Hammertoes (toes that appear bent) and claw toes (toes clenched like a fist) are common symptoms of cavus foot. Chronic ankle sprains and recurrent ankle sprains are also sometimes caused by the cavus foot. This pes cavus foot deformity can also lead to imbalance and instability because of forwarding tilt. In some cases, a neurologic condition associated with pes cavus foot deformity can be associated with foot drop or weakness in the muscles. This means that your neurologically associated pes cavus foot deformity can drag the foot while walking. Foot drop is almost always a sign of a neurological condition, specifically the common or deep peroneal nerve. When this is present, there is a high suspicion for Charcot Marie Tooth, a genetic condition.

How to tell if you have high arches:

The clearest sign of the cavus foot is a remarkably high arch. If the arch in your foot is visible while it’s planted on the ground, you may have a cavus foot. A podiatrist can discuss your family history if there is a concern of a genetic or neurologic condition. Afterward, your podiatrist can perform a gait analysis or biomechanical exam. This will test your foot for strength, signs of weakness, toe deformity, and other symptoms. Your podiatrist can take a look at your bunions, hammertoes, metatarsalgia, heel pain, plantar fasciitis, ankle pain, supination vs. pronation, and more.

High Arch Feet Treatment:

A pes cavus foot deformity is most often treated with shoes for high arches & insoles for high arches. We are also big fans of high arch sandals, high arch sneakers & high arch slippers for foot pain.

Best insoles for high arches:

Orthotic insoles for high arches may be placed in your shoes, which will help to spread the weight over the whole foot.

• This 2014 review of cavus feet shows that custom cavus foot orthotics and insoles can be very beneficial.
• These are our favorite high arch insoles. Click this link to follow.

Best shoes for a pes cavus deformity:

• Shoes for high arches & pes cavus feet may also be modified or it can be a good idea to simply buy a good pair designed for high arch feet.
• Specific pes cavus shoes will provide ankle support and increase the surface area around the heel to help absorb the weight.
• Especially when combined with a good high arch foot insole.

Best pes cavus deformity support braces:

Your podiatrist may recommend an arch support brace. This is most often used in foot drop and for recurrent or chronic ankle sprains. These arch support braces may also be recommended for an unstable ankle. Arch support ankle braces can help to add support and stability to the ankle, making walking easier and much safer.

---

Related Treatment Guides

• Custom 3D Orthotics
• Sports Foot & Ankle Injury Treatment
• Plantar Fasciitis & Heel Pain Treatment
• Bunion Treatment

Dr. Tom’s Top 3 — The Premium Foot Pain Stack (2026)

If you only buy three things for foot pain, get these. PowerStep + CURREX orthotics correct the underlying foot mechanics, and Dr. Hoy’s pain gel delivers fast topical relief. This is the exact stack Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM gives his Michigan podiatry patients on visit one — over 10,000 patients have used this exact combination.

In-Office Treatment at Balance Foot & Ankle

If home treatment isn’t providing relief for your foot and ankle conditions, our podiatry team at Balance Foot & Ankle can help with same-day evaluations and advanced in-office care.

Related Care at Balance Foot & Ankle

Clinical cavus services at our Howell and Bloomfield Township offices.

Custom OrthoticsFoot Bracing

More questions patients ask

What is pes cavus and what causes it?

Pes cavus (high arch foot deformity) describes a foot with an abnormally elevated longitudinal arch that does not flatten normally with weight bearing. Causes: neurological (50%+ of cases) — Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (most common), Friedreich's ataxia, hereditary spastic paraplegia, spinal cord lesions, poliomyelitis; structural/idiopathic — familial high-arch foot type without identifiable neurological cause; and sequelae — residual from treated clubfoot, compartment syndrome with intrinsic muscle fibrosis, or Charcot foot in some configurations. The pattern of muscle weakness and imbalance determines the specific deformity: a neurological cause typically produces progressive clawing of all toes alongside the cavus, while idiopathic pes cavus tends to be stable. At Balance Foot & Ankle in Howell (4330 E Grand River) and Bloomfield Township (43494 Woodward Ave #208) — call (810) 206-1402.

What problems does a high arch foot (pes cavus) cause?

High arch feet cause multiple functional and structural problems: plantar fasciitis and heel pain (the tight plantar fascia is under constant high tension), metatarsalgia (excess pressure on metatarsal heads from reduced plantar surface contact), stress fractures (especially of the metatarsals and navicular), claw toe deformities (intrinsic muscle imbalance causes progressive toe curling), lateral ankle instability (supinated foot position reduces lateral ankle ligament tension, making sprains frequent), peroneal tendon injuries, plantar calluses under metatarsal heads, poor shock absorption (rigid high-arch foot transmits impact forces rather than absorbing them), and difficulty finding comfortable footwear (high arch doesn't fit in standard shoe lasts). Balance Foot & Ankle provides comprehensive pes cavus evaluation and treatment — call (810) 206-1402.

How is pes cavus treated without surgery?

Conservative management of high arch foot: custom orthotics with lateral forefoot posting and metatarsal padding (redistributes plantar pressure from metatarsal heads, accommodates the arch contour), appropriate footwear (cushioned, neutral-to-slightly-cushioned shoes rather than motion-control; avoidance of worn shoes with no cushioning), ankle bracing for those with lateral ankle instability (prevents sprains in a supination-prone foot), physical therapy (calf and plantar fascia stretching, intrinsic foot muscle strengthening, ankle stabilization exercises), appropriate management of claw toes (padded shoes, silicone toe sleeves), and monitoring for progressive neurological deterioration (serial exams and electrophysiological testing to detect progression). Conservative care is most effective for mild-moderate pes cavus without progressive deformity. Balance Foot & Ankle in Howell and Bloomfield Township treats pes cavus — call (810) 206-1402.

Does pes cavus require surgery?

Surgical intervention for pes cavus is considered when: conservative measures are inadequate for pain and functional limitation, the deformity is progressive (especially in neurological cases), rigid claw toe deformities require surgical correction (hammertoe surgery), ankle instability is severe and recurrent despite bracing, or the heel is significantly inverted (varus) causing abnormal loading. Surgical approaches: soft tissue procedures (plantar fascia release, Achilles tendon lengthening, intrinsic transfers), bony procedures (calcaneal osteotomy to correct hindfoot varus, metatarsal osteotomies to reduce metatarsal head pressure), and combined procedures for complex deformities. The goal is to create a plantigrade (flat), braceable foot if the deformity is neurological in origin. Surgical planning requires thorough evaluation of the underlying cause. Balance Foot & Ankle evaluates surgical candidacy for pes cavus — call (810) 206-1402.

Is high arch foot hereditary?

Yes — pes cavus has a significant hereditary component: Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease, the most common cause of symptomatic cavus foot, is a hereditary neuropathy transmitted in autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, or X-linked patterns; multiple genetic mutations cause CMT, and genetic testing can identify the specific mutation; idiopathic pes cavus without identifiable neurological disease also runs strongly in families, suggesting a polygenic (multiple gene) inheritance; and pes cavus is more common in certain ethnic backgrounds. Family history of high arches, Achilles tendon contracture, balance problems, foot drop, or peripheral neuropathy should prompt genetic and neurological evaluation. CMT diagnosis is important for family planning and for identifying which family members would benefit from early intervention. Balance Foot & Ankle in Howell (4330 E Grand River) and Bloomfield Township (43494 Woodward Ave #208) evaluates hereditary foot deformities — call (810) 206-1402.

Still have a question about coverage or cost? Book online and we will check your benefits before your visit: Book in Howell · Book in Bloomfield Township. Prefer to talk it through first? Call (810) 206-1402.