One of the most popular footwear items on the market today is undoubtedly the "Ugg" boot. These boots have caused a craze the world over, proving to be a hit in cold and warm countries alike. What's more, they continue to stand their ground as one of the trendiest statement pieces in today's world of fashion.

However, despite the popularity of these boots, they've recently been drawing criticism from groups of podiatrists for potentially harmful effects on the feet. Specialists have said that the flat-foot design of Uggs can cause serious pain, discomfort, arch problems and even shin splints over time. This is due to the fact that the muscles in the leg from the knee down would have to work particularly hard to stabilise the body in an unsupportive environment.

However, Uggs do feel comfortable on a day to day basis, which likely has a lot has to do with the warm, furry lining and overall soft feel. So, even with the immense amount of criticism Uggs have received for harming feet over the long run, many fans are simply unwilling to give up their Uggs.

The good news, however, is that all those studies and recent reports don't necessarily mean you have to abandon your own beloved Ugg boots. If you're attached to your furry, comfortable - albeit unsupportive - footwear, you can remedy them to give you more support. To do so, simply remove the lining of your Uggs (they should be removable), and slide in an arch support insert - available at most chemists. Then slide your wool lining back over the arch support, and you've got yourself stylish, supportive footwear.

However, taking the criticism of Ugg boots into consideration, it's important to remember than many other shoe and footwear designs on the market are equally unsupportive. So, it's vital that you pay attention to aspects like arch support when purchasing footwear. It's also worth having a look through your closet and remedying other footwear with arch support inserts, as you might have done to your Ugg boots.

Your feet work hard to carry you around - so it's worth taking good care of them. If you suspect that unsupportive footwear has already done some damage to your feet, seek advice or treatment from a podiatrist. As an added note, remember that many comprehensive health insurance policies cover trips to the podiatrist - so if you're feet need care and attention, you can usually seek treatment knowing you're covered.