Cavoid feet

Cavoid foot can affect your posture or cause other physical complications. This may ultimately keep you from participating in certain physical activities or sports. Here’s what you need to know about cavoid foot and how to treat it.

Cavoid foot origin

The most common origin of cavoid foot is neurological. People at higher risk of developing it are those with certain diseases, such as:

• Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
• Cerebral palsy
• Neuromuscular diseases
• Spina bifida

What can cause cavoid foot

Acquired cavoid foot is rarer but no less uncomfortable.

It can be caused by musculoskeletal disorders, for example, when the dorsal flexor muscles are dominated by the plantar flexors.

Cavoid foot can also lead to trauma, such as a fractured tibia, peroneal nerve injury or any form of alteration that can cause the foot to arch. Athletes may develop cavoid foot through repetitive movements, eventually deforming the arch. Runners and classical dancers are more prone to it. Conversely, it can occur after long periods of immobility without using the feet.

Symptoms of cavoid foot

Cavoid foot results in poor distribution of support on the ground. It can cause pain in different places, such as:

• The toes
• The bottom of the foot
• The outer edge of the foot
• The forefoot (metatarsalgia)
• The heel, due to a retracted Achilles tendon and plantar fascia (talalgia)
• The ankle and lower leg

In addition to the pronounced arch of the plantar vault, cavoid foot can lead to certain more visible symptoms, such as:

• Repetitive sprains
• Shoe-fitting difficulties
• Hammer toes
• Hindfoot misalignment
• Spiral torsion of the foot
• Lower leg torsion disorder

Who should you see for cavoid foot?

If preventive measures aren’t enough, you can see an orthotist about the next steps for treating cavoid foot.

They will determine the severity of the condition and suggest treatments accordingly. This may include manual foot therapies, which can reduce pain and restore flexibility to the arch, reducing its deformity.

How can cavoid foot be treated?

There is footwear designed specifically to help you take care of cavoid foot.

Foot orthoses

• A foot orthosis made from soft, comfortable materials is ideal for cavoid foot. It better supports the arch and optimizes shock absorption by relieving more sensitive spots that are bearing too much weight.
• Proper foot orthoses will also reduce cavoid foot symptoms such as repetitive sprains and the progression of some foot or ankle deformities.

Orthopedic shoes

• An orthopedic shoe is an adapted shoe that is tailored to the anatomy of your foot and helps stabilize it. It helps reduce friction and compression of the heel and toes.
• An orthopedic shoe designed for cavoid foot should have plenty of space in the forefoot and more rigid upper and rear reinforcements.