Next time you step out of the shower, look at the imprint your wet foot makes on the floor. Is there a gap between your heel print and the ball of the foot? If so, it is likely you have a pes cavus foot. People with pes cavus are unable to absorb the shock of heel strike when walking. They often suffer from ankle sprains, sore knees, tight achilles tendons, clawed toes and later on, low back pain. Callusing occurs to protect the high pressure areas of the heels and balls of the feet. Gel insoles soften the impact on the knees, hips and spine, while a sturdy walking shoe provides stability. Custom molded insoles, made with high lateral sides, off load the pressure to provide more comfort and stability. Pes cavus can be bothersome to live with but with proper treatment can provide very happy feet.

Diane Calder, B.D. Mitchell Prosthetics and Orthotics www.mitchellpando.com