Understanding Why Corns Form and How They’re Treated Corns are one of the most common reasons people visit our clinic and the good news is that they’re highly treatable. If you’ve been dealing with a painful spot on your toe or the ball of your foot, you’re not alone. Corns form when the skin experiences repeated pressure or friction, often over a bony area. Over time, this irritation leads to a concentrated core of hardened skin that presses on nerve endings, causing sharp, localized pain. Why Corns Form Corns typically develop because of: Tight or ill‑fitting footwear Toe deformities or gripping patterns Underlying biomechanical issues Pressure between toes (leading to “soft corns”) When the toes are compressed or rubbing inside a shoe, the skin responds by thickening. In the case of a corn, this thickened skin forms a deep central nucleus that becomes painful with every step. How We Treat Corns At Whitby Family Footcare Clinic, we provide safe, professional removal of corns — a qu...

  Do I Need a Chiropodist or Podiatrist? The Questions We Hear Most in Ontario   Foot pain and mobility issues affect people of all ages, yet many Ontarians aren’t sure when to see a chiropodist or podiatrist. If you’ve ever wondered whether your foot problem is “serious enough,” you’re not alone. The truth is simple: if your feet are limiting your comfort, activity, or confidence, a foot‑care specialist can help.   Below are the questions we hear most often — and the answers that help people decide when it’s time to book.   “Do I need a referral?” No referral is required. Chiropodists and podiatrists are primary‑care foot specialists, so you can book directly whenever you need support.   “Is this covered by OHIP?” Routine foot care isn’t covered by OHIP. Most extended health plans cover assessments, treatments, and custom orthotics. Many patients are surprised by how much their plan includes.   “What’s the difference between a chiropodist and a podiatrist...

The summer is coming to a close and flip flop weather will come to a close as the weather gets cooler. Wearing flip flops can be difficult on your feet. The design of flip flops do not allow the foot to be properly secured to the foot. If you have flat feet (pronated foot) your heel will shift off of the flip flop (watch the video).  Furthermore, your toes will have to grip the flip flops to keep them from falling off while you walk. Over time( successive summers) this can result in clawed or hammered toes leading to pain in the ball of your foot. This can lead to metatarsalgia or pain in the ball of the foot. The American Podiatric Medical Association has a seal of approval section which lists recommended  flip flops. These APMA approved flip flop sandals have a molded foot bed and more secure straps that help to minimize foot problems. www.footcarewhitby.ca

In southern Ontario many people can’t wait to start wearing their sandals after a long winter.  Unfortunately wearing sandals over many years can result in pain in the balls of your feet.  Metatarsalagia is a general term for pain in the ball of the foot but does not specify the exact cause of the pain.  The many causes of metatarsalagia are outlined below. Sports that place tremendous pounding on the ball of the foot, like jogging. Flat feet and bunions An enlarged metatarsal head. Calluses or corns that cause the weight on the foot to be unevenly distributed. Ill-fitting shoes that put pressure on the bones of the feet. Shoes with small toe boxes that cramp your toes. The thinning or shifting of the fatty tissue of the foot pad due to aging.  Arthritis or any degenerative disease of the joints. Systemic conditions such as diabetes, which can cause nerve-type pain in the foot. Most of the causes listed above ...

The Toronto International Film Festival is near its end.  Over the past 10 days there have been many galas and parties. I am certain many people are complaining about their tired and sore feet, especially if they  had to wear high heels.  The stiletto high heel shoe has been a very popular shoe style for generations of women. The popularity of high heeled shoes above 2 to 3 inches has not diminished with each new female generation. Furthermore, some women state once you get use to high heels they are comfortable.  It is quite amusing to hear mothers warning their young daughters not to wear high heels. My older female patients with foot problems complain they were foolish to wear high heels but at the time they couldn’t resist wearing high heels because they looked better wearing their high heels. I recommend that regular high heel wearers to start using lower heeled shoes or flats. Unfortunately this can lead to new complaints such as “it hurt...