Top foot pain conditions in Canada in 2025
A recent survey by OpenAI revealed what how people are using ChatGPT 5.0 to help them find out more about foot problems. (1) The research team surveyed 1.5 million conversations by consumers (rather than businesses). Almost half (49%) of people use it to ask for information, making it “a very close substitute for web search” (i.e. Google)
We did our own search, and asked ChatGPT for the top five foot problems it was asked about by Canadians:
1. Heel pain / Plantar fasciitis
We’re not surprised this is top of the list, as it is one of the most common foot problems we see at Hunt Footcare. Heel pain, or plantar fasciitis, is the result of overstretching or injury to a band of tissue in the sole of the foot. This can lead to intense pain which runs from the bottom of your heel to the arch of your foot. This pain tends to get better as you move around, and be at its worst first thing in the morning or after resting. Orthotics can help with preventing this.
2. Skin conditions including corns and calluses
Badly-fitting footwear has a lot to answer for, including causing skin conditions, and corns and calluses through friction and rubbing. At Hunt Footcare, we can treat existing foot skin problems and help prevent them returning.
3. Ingrown toenails and other nail problems
Ingrown toenails are a very common problem usually caused by tight-fitting shoes, or shoes that are too small. To prevent this, try to buy footwear in a store where you can try them on and preferably getting fitting advice too.
Buying from online stores may look a bargain or seem more convenient. Around 30% of all Canadian shoe sales are made online, worth CAN$3.1bn in 2025 alone (2). However, if the shoes arrive and don’t fit, you might be tempted to wear them anyway, as it can be too much hassle or costly to return them.
4. Fungal infections (skin and nails)
These common fungal infections include athlete’s foot, toenail fungus, and plantar warts. With prompt treatment and our expert care, you can be clear of these infections and back on your feet.
Read about fungal nail infections here:
5. Bunions and other toe deformities (hammer/claw toes etc.)
Bunions are hard, bony lumps on the side of your foot. Our team can discuss ways to ease any pain your bunions may cause, and how to avoid further damage or rubbing.
Other common foot problems on the list
- Flat feet / fallen arches
- Foot and ankle injuries (sprains, strains)
- Diabetic-related foot problems (neuropathy, ulcers)
- Blisters
- Arthritic / inflammatory joint conditions
If you want to talk about any of the foot conditions above, or any foot problems you might have now, call us and make an appointment at one of our three clinics:
Diagnosing the causes of foot pain
As highly experienced podiatrists, we can diagnose many foot issues by examining your feet, watching how you move, and where you feel the pain. We also have other diagnostic tools including a portable ultrasound.
Ultrasound (aka diagnostic ultrasound imaging) allows us to view the muscles, nerves, blood vessels and bones in your feet and lower legs with remarkable accuracy. It is non-invasive, painless and simply involves us running a small handheld device that we run over your skin.
Personalised footcare plan
Once we have a diagnosis, we offer a personalised treatment and recovery plan to get you back on your feet again. Your personalised foot care plan will usually involve physical therapy with us, and a series of specific exercises for you to do yourself at home.
These home exercises are essential for a sustained and successful recovery, and may include:
- Exercises to build foot strength
- Stretches for your calf muscles & plantar fascia
- Resistance-style exercises for your ankle and foot muscles
Your plan may also include:
- Medication, including Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs.
- Applying ice 3-4 times a day to help reduce swelling, tendon strains, and ease pain.
- Braces, taping/strapping, and other temporary measures
- Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) which uses sound waves to stimulate healing of injured tissues.
- PhotoBioModulation (PBM) Therapy, or Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) for pain.
Foot pain FAQs
If your foot pain was caused by a preventable injury, then we can look at ways you can reduce the risk of reoccurrence.
- If you strained a muscle or tendon when exercising, for example, make sure you warm up and warm down before and after exercise.
- If incurred when playing sport, are there better shoes or protective items you could wear?
If you have foot pain from ‘everyday’ shoes or boots, first check your footwear fits properly. Your old shoes may have fitted a couple of years back, but may not now if they have stretched or been damaged.
- Ditch those old shoes and buy new footwear that gives you proper support.
- Wear shoes that support and cushion your arches.
- Look for shoes that have a low to moderate heel.
- Ask us about orthotics to improve your posture and gait (another cause of sore feet and heels).
Also check that your safety shoes are in good condition and offer the full protection required if you work in an industry with higher risk of foot injury such as construction and warehousing. More info here:
If you are overweight, you are often putting excess pressure and strain on your feet with every step you take. Maintaining a healthy weight can be beneficial for your feet, and will also lower your risk of Type 2 diabetes, which is so often detrimental to foot health.
Call us today for an appointment
Diagnosing the cause of your foot pain is the first step. Once you have that diagnosis, our team are more than happy to advise on ways to prevent foot pain, and help treat any you may have.
Call us for your appointment a any of our three specialist foot care clinics:
About the author
J.Craig Hunt D.Ch. is founder of Hunt Footcare, one of Southwestern Ontario’s longest providers of professional footcare and foot surgery consultation services. He is Past President of both the College of Chiropodists of Ontario and the Ontario Society of Chiropodists. Read more about Craig here:
—//—
SOURCES:
(1) Chatterji, A., Cunningham, T., Deming, D. J., Hitzig, Z., Ong, C., Shan, C. Y., & Wadman, K. (2025, September). How people use ChatGPT (Working Paper No. 34255). National Bureau of Economic Research. https://doi.org/10.3386/w34255
(2) Statista. (2025, September 22). Footwear – Canada. Statista. https://www.statista.com/outlook/cmo/footwear/canada
