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...

  If you’ve been wearing the same pair of orthotics for a few years and have started to notice new aches in your feet, knees, or lower back, you’re not imagining it. One of the most common questions patients ask at Foot Care Whitby is: “Can old orthotics cause foot pain?” The short answer is yes — worn or aging orthotics can absolutely contribute to discomfort. But the more important question is why this happens and how to know when it’s time for a reassessment.   Why Orthotics Don’t Last Forever Custom orthotics are medical devices designed to support your unique foot structure, improve alignment, and reduce stress on bones and soft tissues. But like any device used daily, they experience wear and tear. Over time, orthotics can lose their effectiveness due to: Material compression — cushioning layers flatten and lose shock absorption Shell fatigue — the corrective structure softens or deforms Daily wear and friction Changes in your b...

Over the past few weeks heel pain has sidelined or hobbled   Albert Pujol’s of the Los Angeles Angels, Mike Napoli of the Boston Red Sox’s and Jarius Byrd of the Buffalo Bills.   If you are student athlete going back to high school or university, heel pain is something you want to avoid.   Heel pain will change the way you perform your sport.    If you are developing heel pain, you will start to notice pain when you take your first step in the morning.   As time goes on, you will dread your first step out of bed because it is going to be painful. With practice you will perfect a method to keep as much weight off of your painful heel.   You will realize the pain will get a little better as the day goes on but you also know that when you get home and sit down but have to get up again it’s going to be painful!   One of the main reasons heel pain occurs is because the plantar fascia pulls away from its attachment under the heel bone.  ...

The alarm clock radio has just rang and your day is about to begin. You dread your first step out of bed because it is going to be painful but you have perfected a method to keep as much weight off of your painful heel.  You realize the pain will get a little better as the day goes on but you also know that when you get home and sit down but have to get up again its going to be painful!  Does this sound familiar? If you are reading my blog,  you may already know that you may have plantar fasciitis or heel spur syndrome.  Heel pain occurs because the plantar fascia pulls away from its attachment under the heel bone.  This pulling away occurs with every step you take while walking.  The plantar fascia has role in keeping your foot stable as you lift you heel off the ground while walking. The plantar fascia helps to resist your foot from bending. To give you an idea of what I am describing, I want you to take your hand and place it with your ...

Custom foot orthotics (CFO) are prescription medical devices designed to stabilized and control the function of the foot and its alignment with the lower leg. CFO's are used to treat or prevent injury caused by excessive motion or a lack of motion in the foot and lower leg. Your prescription CFO device is tailored to your needs and activities. Your CFO is not just a piece of plastic. Chiropodists/podiatrists are trained to prescribe custom foot orthotics. The prescription CFO is based on the findings from the description your complaint, your medical history,  a detailed biomechanical examination of your foot and lower extremity, a gait analysis of your walking pattern. All of this gathered information is used to formulate a prescription.  Your prescription could include an addition such as an accommodation to relieve pressure that is causing callus on the bottom of your foot.  Some additions can encourage joint motion or prevent joint motion. Ultimately, the pres...