• 목록

Some people complain of pain in their feet and calves even after a light walk, rather than intense hiking or running. Friends and acquaintances often tease them, telling them they need to exercise more. However, true family, friends, and colleagues should instead recommend visiting a podiatrist or a hospital to check if they have Pes Cavus (high arches).

Pes Cavus is a condition where the instep is higher than normal, and the arch of the foot appears convexly elevated when viewed from the side. While it can be a congenital condition, it can also develop if bones fail to knit correctly following a fracture.

The symptoms of Pes Cavus are commonly known to be limited to pain in the soles, ankles, and calves, making it difficult to walk for long periods. However, the majority of foot and ankle specialists warn that Pes Cavus is a "time bomb" for joint and spinal health.

Dr. Choi Hong-jun of Seoul Gunwoo Orthopedics—a Doctor of Podiatry, co-author of podiatry textbooks, former visiting professor at Harvard Medical School, and member of specialized research societies—emphasizes that treatment for Pes Cavus should not be delayed.

Dr. Choi stated, "There is a lot of information suggesting that Pes Cavus is merely a matter of calluses on the forefoot and some calf pain, which can be improved through foot muscle strengthening. However, as evidenced by various research papers in podiatry and rehabilitation medicine, this is not true. If the optimal window for treatment is missed due to such misconceptions, patients are exposed to uncontrollable complications."

In feet with high arches, the impact on the heel during walking is transmitted directly to the front of the foot. Due to severe pain in the forefoot, patients unconsciously step on the side that doesn't hurt, leading to a collapse of the body’s weight-bearing axis. In fact, it is not surprising to find Pes Cavus in patients with knee and spinal disorders.

The problems do not end there. As muscles become stiff and weak, the condition can progress to severe toe deformities, such as claw toe, and eventually ankle arthritis. Therefore, expert diagnosis and prompt treatment are more critical for Pes Cavus than for almost any other foot disorder.

How is treatment conducted at a specialized foot hospital? At Seoul Gunwoo Orthopedics, a leading medical institution for the research and treatment of foot diseases, conservative treatment is administered if detailed examinations show the deformity is stable or progressing slowly. On the other hand, if the deformity is flexible but progressing rapidly and accompanied by instability, surgery should be performed as soon as possible to prevent the aforementioned complications.

The core of the surgery is realignment to correct the deformity. The outcome of the treatment depends on clearly identifying the need for dynamic or static realignment and performing selective surgery accordingly. Therefore, satisfactory results from Pes Cavus surgery can only be expected when supported by a podiatrist’s extensive clinical experience and a professional diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation system.