1. Use a Mirror
The easiest way to spot high arches is to examine your feet in a mirror. Since it is quite difficult to see your feet from the side, a mirror can help you better gauge the deepness of the arches. If you see a pronounced difference between your arches and those of other people, you may have instep problems.
2. Identify Symptoms
While people with flat feet often suffer from pain and discomfort after activity, most people with high arches have few symptoms. High arches may be painful in overweight people, and it may lead to frequent ankle sprains and pain under the base of the big toe, especially in those who spend long hours standing up. Corns and calluses are more likely too, since the height of the arches means that more pressure is put on the toes and heels.
3. Look at the Overall Structure of Your Feet
Most people with high arches experience problems with their toes folding in like a claw. This is a natural response of the foot to fight the high arches, but it can lead to discomfort. People with high arches often have trouble finding shoes that fit because they experience unusual pressure of the upper part of the feet against the shoe. People with high arches may also have to buy larger shoes to accommodate the unusual position of the toes.
4. Get Tested
High arches may not be enough of a problem to justify the cost of exams. You can, however, ask for an X-ray of the feet to see whether the curvature of the bones is unusually high. A nerve conduction study (NCT), in which electrodes are placed on your feet and an electrical current is applied, can help a doctor determine whether you suffered from nerve damage in the past and whether this could have caused high arches.
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