WITH the weather hotting up, flip flops might seem like the perfect way to keep your feet cool in the summer, but it's claimed they could be putting your health at risk.
Many of the issues stem from the lack of support the footwear offers - because let's be honest, aside from protecting the bottom of feet they don't do a lot.
Dr Camilla Long, who works at the Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in North Carolina, told Mail Online some of the issues she sees relating to flip-flops are shin splints, Achilles tendon issues and pain in the back.
There's no support for arches and heels, plus you might find you're tensing your toes in an attempt to keep them in place.
They can even make people change the way they walk, which could again cause back issues.
Plus there's the threat of an extremely painful condition called plantar fasciitis, which is where the ligament that supports your arch gets strained tears, taking over a year to recover.
Achilles problems can also be difficult to treat, and they hurt a lot.
It's a tendon between the calf muscle and heel bone and the best way to look after it is to make sure your shoes bend where your foot does - meaning at the balls of your feet.
If shoes don't do that, or bend everywhere like flip-flops, your feet aren't getting enough support and it's likely you'll sustain an Achilles injury by straining it.
With our favourite summer fashion choice strictly off limits, you'll find us happily browsing the high street's epic shoe selection.
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On a more minor note, you might get blisters or rubbing from flip-flops - and of course you'll need to apply suncream to the tops of your feet.
Make sure you don't run or walk long distances in them either, as feet need much more support than they can offer.
Never drive in flip-flops either. They can slip off easily and could get stuck between peddles, or cause you to press the wrong pedal when trying to keep them on.
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