FLIMSY footwear flip-flops cause 200,000 accidents every year making them the most dangerous item to have in your summer wardrobe.
According to National Claims, because of their loose fit and no protection against things falling on your foot they are seeing a rise in personal injury claims.
But they aren’t the only hazard that comes hanging in your closet.
The saying goes, pain is beauty, but when it comes to looking good experts warn your clothes carry a caution.
Here Clemmie Fieldsend investigates what items should carry a warning label.
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FLAT SHOES: TOES CHANGE SHAPE AND POSSIBLE INJURY
While high heels have a bad reputation for giving you sore and damaged feet over time, flat shoes can be just as damaging.
Emma McConnachie, a spokesperson for the Royal College of Podiatry says: “When choosing footwear it is important to ensure that it fits the shape of your foot, the activity you are using if for and that it supports your foot.
"Shoes which are completely flat inside can lead to pain in the arch, heels and forefoot for many people."
And if you're "standing for long periods" in flat shoes that don't have "the appropriate support [it] can lead to chronic issues such as plantar fasciitis and other foot strains", the expert added.
If you do like to wear a ballet pump, Emma recommends opting for ones that "stay on your foot" with a "lace or strap across the middle of your foot".
Ballet pumps and other flat shoes like flip-flops can end up in the wearer "clawing their toes to keep them on their feet" and "long-term, this can cause the toes to change shape as well as short-term issues such as them slipping off your feet and causing injury".
HIGH WAISTED JEANS: POOR GUT HEALTH
Feeling the pinch around your waistband could contribute to poor gut health.
Julie Thomson, patient information and gastroenterology dietitian at Guts UK says that tight and high waistbands might potentially make reflux symptoms worse.
She explains: “Someone already diagnosed with IBS might have become uncomfortable in tight waistbands and experience bloating.
“Someone might be able to wear jeans with tight, high waists in a morning but get very uncomfortable later in the day.”
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While high waisted jeans aren’t going anywhere you can give your stomach a break by wearing “Mom” styles that are slightly looser and more comfortable.
SKINNY JEANS: BLADDER INCONTINENCE
Drain pipe jeans are one of the most popular styles of jeans in the UK, however their second skin style can cause pelvic floor problems and even neck ache.
Stephanie Taylor, a pelvic floor expert at Kegel8, says that squeezing in your stomach for long puts pressure on your pelvic floor which can lead to potential bladder incontinence.
She says: “You could end up with unforgettable back, neck, shoulder and hip pain too.
“Engaging your abs for prolonged periods while walking or standing can alter your body’s mechanics, putting extra load on joints and muscles to make you for the lack of support from the constricted diaphragm.”
SHAPEWEAR: DIGESTIVE SYSTEM DAMAGE
Good underwear is the foundation of any outfit, so making sure you’ve got that right is the best place to start.
But while shapewear is great for giving you a smooth silhouette if they’re too tight they can cause damage to your digestive system and worsen acid reflux.
Dr Phillipa Kaye says: “It depends where the tightness is - so corsets or a tight bra may restrict breathing, may also put pressure on the stomach meaning that you may have reflux, or feel full early.
“Too tight waistbands also put pressure on the digestive system and so can worsen bloating, as well as being more uncomfortable if you are bloated.”
BRAS: LYMPH NODE INFECTIONS
Much like the tightness of shapewear, a restrictive bra especially with uncomfortable underwire can give you painful infections in your breasts.
If you’re wearing the incorrect size and underwire is too constrictive this can damage your lymph glands by restricting flow up and down the body, but there is no evidence that this causes breast cancer.
Dr. Michael Schacter, MD, of the Schacter Center for Complimentary Medicine says: “Over 85 percent of the lymph fluid flowing from the breast drains to the armpit lymph nodes.
''Most of the rest drains to the nodes along the breast bone. Bras and other external tight clothing can impede flow.”
Cutting off flow means there is a build-up which can cause painful infections.
BAGS: ARTHRITIS
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that carrying a heavy bag can cause pain and be bad for your back, but for most of us it's unavoidable.
But be it a laptop from the front door to the bus to the office or a handbag filled with kids essentials, never mind your own, you need a bag.
After long periods of time a heavy bag, particularly on one shoulder or arm, not only can give you shoulder and back problems but issues such tension headaches can develop and arthritis in the neck.
Although arthritis is liveable it can last for the rest of your life.
According to BackCare it's best to wear a rucksack and use two straps or a cross body bag that distributes weight evenly.
