The Arch of Your Foot

Podiatrists categorize feet by shape. We have an "ideal" foot shape, and anything that is not ideal we say is "deformed." The catch is that almost everybody has some degree of deformity! So don't be insulted if your podiatrist talks about your "deformed" feet—you're just like everyone else.

One aspect of your foot shape is the arch. The arch of your foot begins at the heel bone and goes forward to the ball of your foot—behind the toe joints. Your heel bone should make approximately a 10˚ angle with the floor, though you would need an X-ray to measure this exactly. High arched feet and low arched feet each present their own problems, so consult with Dr. Reddy or a podiatrist in your area to figure out how to best treat your unique feet!

If your foot is arched higher than normal, you have what is known in medical jargon as pes cavus. Some people are born with it, while others will have high arches due to muscle weakness. Muscle weakness, in turn, can be due to diabetes, neurological deficits, or trauma, so it's important to keep open lines of communication between podiatrists and other specialists. High arches can be treated with surgery or with orthotics, depending on the patient.

On the other hand, a flat foot is known as pes planus. Once again, some people are born with flat feet, while others get them later in life. The bones of your feet are held together by ligaments, and the less tension in your ligaments, the easier it is for the bones of your feet to flatten out. Young children have very flexible feet, so if they look flat, don't worry quite yet, because it could be normal! Your podiatrist will tell you if your child will "grow out" of his or her flat feet.

Adult feet can flatten out as part of the aging process or as a result of Charcot neuropathy. Whatever the case may be, definitely consult with your podiatrist, because he or she will tell you how to modify your lifestyle in response to your changing foot.