Forget the flip-flops for healthy feet

Anyone likely to get the flip-flops out at the first sign of summer sunshine may want to think again.

According to recent research from Auburn University in the US, wearing flip-flops offers little support for the body and could cause injuries.

A study of 39 men and women found that the feet of those wearing flip-flops struck the ground less vertically than those wearing trainers, which made their strides shorter and altered their posture, reports the Albany Times Union.

Nancy Quimby, a podiatrist, said that the resultant force is forced to dissipate elsewhere, which could affect the Achilles tendon, the knees, the hips, the back or the neck.

"Flip-flops are just about the worst thing you can put on your feet. You have to work very hard to keep them on your feet, so you're straining the muscles that lead to your toes and your leg muscles work harder," she commented, adding that people wishing to purchase designer shoes in the form of flip-flops would be better spending their money on Birkenstock sandals a la Kate Hudson or Liv Tyler.

According to the Daily Mail, 55,100 men and women went to hospital with flip-flop-related injuries in 2002.