Feet

High arch feet or pes cavus is a type of foot posture characterized by abnormally high arch height along the inner side of the foot. This foot type is also described as “supinated” feet or walking with excessive supination.  A person with high arch feet will notice that their footprints have greater curvature and less surface area touching the ground.

High arch feet are mostly congenital (inborn) but can also be due to underlying neuromuscular conditions such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, and post-poliomyelitis syndrome.

Bunions or hallux abductovalgus, are a joint deformity where the big toe curve towards the lesser toes. People with bunions often complain of difficulty fitting into shoes due to the wide forefoot caused by bunions. Bunions are a progressive condition and cause overlapping toes to develop at their severe stages. It can affect adults and children, with the latter known as juvenile bunions.

Bunions affect the function of our big toe joint in walking, causing stress to other foot or toe joints and disrupting the pressure distribution under the foot. Commonly associated conditions caused by bunions include corns or calluses, plantar plate injury or hallux rigidus.

A Morton’s neuroma is a ball of thickened nerve tissue that occurs in the digital nerves of the foot, often referred to as a benign nerve tumour. The most common neuroma occurs between the third and fourth toe and is a painful condition that causes shooting pain or numbness down to the affected toes.

Flat feet, or medically termed as pes planus, is a condition where the arches of the feet are lower than normal or completely collapsed. In severe cases, the entire sole of the foot will completely touch the ground. Although many people with flat feet experience no symptoms, others may face significant discomfort and long-term complications. Flat feet with symptoms typically warrant treatment to manage the pain and prevent further complications.

Flat feet occur when the foot arch either does not develop properly or collapses over time. It is a common foot deformity condition seen in Asian countries. Flat feet in children (paediatric pes planus), especially infants and toddlers, can be normal as the arches typically develop during childhood. However, flat feet that persist into adulthood or develop later in life can lead to various foot and lower limb problems, including pain, fatigue, and difficulty walking.

You head out for a jog or climb a flight of stairs, and a dull ache starts to rise at the back of your ankle. Instead of fading, it lingers after activity, and even the simple act of standing on tiptoe can set it off again. It’s no coincidence that the phrase “Achilles heel” has come to mean a point of weakness, since this tendon, though built for strength, often becomes the body’s most fragile link. Because of this, the condition is commonly described as Achilles tendonitis or tendinitis, and in medical settings you might also hear the term tendinopathy, which is a blanket term for conditions affecting the tendon — tendinitis, tendinosis and tenosynovitis.

Since the tendon is engaged in every step, even routine movements can add to the strain. A sharp increase in running, long hours on unforgiving ground, stiff calf muscles, or shoes that lack proper support all place extra load on it. As these stresses repeat, the tendon fibres slowly lose their natural resilience, leaving the ankle in pain, especially after rest.

Because this process builds gradually, it’s best not to ignore persistent aches. A careful assessment can confirm whether the Achilles tendon is truly the source and rule out other causes. From there, a podiatrist can guide you with a plan that considers your activity levels, choice of footwear, and movement patterns, helping you manage the condition safely. With this context in place, it’s time to look closely at the symptoms of Achilles tendonitis.

You swing your feet out of bed and a sharp jab under the heel stops you. In those first steps of the morning at home you feel it bite, and worry sets in as you wonder what kind of treatment to seek to alleviate the discomfort. Because heel pain has many causes, one possibility is irritation of the plantar fascia, the strong band that supports the arch.

To make sense of it, consider what loads this tissue. In particular, common heel pain causes include a sudden rise in activity, long hours on hard floors, tight calf muscles, and foot mechanics that strain the arch. As a result, when the plantar fascia is irritated, the first step after rest often feels especially sharp.

Given these patterns, it’s sensible to seek a clear assessment rather than guess. A podiatrist can review your foot mechanics, training load and footwear, then tailor a care plan that fits your goals and routine. But first, let us look at the symptoms of plantar fasciitis.