All eyes are on the hot new Islanders as they spend their first night in the villa and get to know each other.
And after ITV cast its first Love Island contestant with a visible disability, fans want to know more about Hugo Hammond's condition.
What is club foot?
Club foot is a condition you're born with. It's when the achilles (the tendon at the back of the heel) is too short, causing a baby's foot or feet to be turned inwards and backwards.
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The NHS says: "Club foot affects about 1 baby in every 1,000 born in the UK. Both feet are affected in about half of these babies. It's more common in boys."
Club foot is usually diagnosed at birth, but it is possible to spot it during an ultrasound scan in pregnancy between 18-20 weeks.
What causes a club foot in pregnancy?
According to Mayo Clinic, there are several factors which could increase the likelihood of a baby developing club foot. It says:
- "Family history. If either of the parents or their other children have had clubfoot, the baby is more likely to have it as well.
- Congenital conditions. In some cases, clubfoot can be associated with other abnormalities of the skeleton that are present at birth (congenital), such as spina bifida, a birth defect that occurs when the spine and spinal cord don't develop or close properly.
- Environment. Smoking during pregnancy can significantly increase the baby's risk of clubfoot.
- Not enough amniotic fluid during pregnancy. Too little of the fluid that surrounds the baby in the womb may increase the risk of clubfoot."
Some babies are born with their feet turned inwards due to them being squashed in the womb. In this case, it isn't club foot and their feet should stretch out within three weeks of being born and no treatment is needed.
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However, club foot will need some help being corrected.
Is it genetic?
The NHS says: "In most cases the cause of club foot is not known. There may be a genetic link, as it can run in families.
If you have a child with a club foot or feet, your chance of having a 2nd child with the condition is about 1 in 35.
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If 1 parent has a club foot, there's about a 1 in 30 chance of your baby having it.
If both parents have the condition, this increases to about a 1 in 3 chance.
In rare cases, club foot is linked to more serious conditions, such as spina bifida."
Is it painful?
According to the NHS, club foot isn't painful to babies who are born with it.
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However, without correction, it can become painful as the child begins to learn how to stand and walk.
Can club foot be corrected?
Club foot is easily treated these days through physiotherapy and corrective operations.
Treatment of club foot normally starts straight away, when a baby is around one week old.
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Love Island's Hugo explained: "I had lots of operations when I was a kid. You can only really tell [I have club foot] when I walk barefoot. I've got a really short achilles heel. I walk slightly on my tip toes."
The NHS explains: "The main treatment, called the Ponseti method, involves gently manipulating and stretching your baby's foot into a better position. It's then put into a cast.
"This is repeated every week for about 5 to 8 weeks.
"After the last cast comes off, most babies need a minor operation to loosen the Achilles tendon at the back of their ankle.
"This is done using a local anaesthetic. It helps to release their foot into a more natural position."
Hugo's club foot hasn't held him back
Hugo, like most people born with club foot, is able to live a normal life, and he has embraced his condition. He's travelled all over the world playing cricket for the England Physical Disability squad.
Hugo is a PE teacher by profession and he's certainly an inspiration to his students with his achievements.
Love Island is on weeknights at 9pm on ITV Hub . The episodes are available to stream on BritBox the following morning.
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Featured Image Credit: NHS
Topics: Love Island, Health