05/22/2026
Happy Footcare Friday! We at the Merry Family Foot Clinic want you to put your best foot forward! The Ontario Society of Chiropodists has published the following information on foot pain, prevalence, prevention, impact, and accessing care. Swipe through the following images for more information!
Image Descriptions for the visually impaired:
1. "Ontario foot health report card - feet first Ontario - from the Ontario Society of Chiropodists" featuring an image of a woman's feet which appear healthy
2. "Foot Pain - foot pain affects most Ontarians - 75% of Canadians will experience a foot problem in their lifetime, 1 in 5 experience at least one foot problem every year, and up to 30% live with chronic foot pain" featuring a graphic image of a man frowning, holding his foot
3. "Preventable complications - most serious foot complications are preventable. 85% of diabetes related amputations start with a preventable foot ulcer. 70-80% of foot ulcers can be prevented with early care. Every 4 hours, a limb is amputated in Canada due to diabetes" featuring a graphic of a clock with 4 hours marked.
4. "System Impact - foot health is a system level issue. Up to 20% of primary care musculoskeletal visits involve the foot or ankle. 1 in 6 diabetes related emergency room visits involve the foot. Ontario has fewer than 840 chiropodists and podiatrists for 16 million people." with a graphic highlighting the capacity gap on an outline of the province of Ontario.
5. "Barriers to early care - why people delay podiatric care. Early foot problems often don't hurt. 50% of people with diabetes don't check their feet regularly. Many people don't know chiropodists/podiatrists are primary foot-care providers. Cost/coverage and mobility/transportation can also pose a barrier." featuring a graphic of a stick man looking pensive at a brick wall.
6. "When to see a chiropodist or podiatrist. Seek podiatric care when: foot pain lasts more than 2 weeks, sudden or severe pain, new swelling or colour change, wounds or blisters or cracks that don't heal, numbness or tingling or temperature change, or any foot changes if you have diabetes." featuring a graphic of a clipboard with a checklist.
7. "Let's put feet first Ontario. Ontario society of chiropodists - keeping Ontarians mobile, healthy, and active. Find out more at ontariochiropodist.com"
