A person who is knock-kneed has a medical condition known as a valgus. This can start around age 2 to 3, is at its worst around age 4. Knock-kneed and bowlegged are terms used to describe an individuals gait or stance. Non Surgical option includes splints, night braces, orthopedic shoes.Ī procedure called “guided growth” may be suggested to stop the growth on the bent side of the bone with time straightening of the bone will happen progressivelyįemoral osteotomy is another option in most severe cases or when growth is finished. Knock knees is a normal condition where a childs knees are closer together than her ankles. Observation is the first option, since most cases of knock knees resolves on their own (99%).Īfter the age of 7 or 8 if knock knees are severe and cause pain or difficulty in walking the pediatric orthopedic may recommend surgical or nonsurgical options. Certain diseases (like rickets) can cause permanent knock-knees. Chances are your child's legs will significantly straighten, without any treatment, by age 7 or 8. They typically become apparent when a child is 2 to 3 years old, and they often get worse around age 4. Even skiing puts a lot of strain on all structures of the knee joint through. Knock-knees are most commonly a normal stage of growth in young children. This includes almost all ball sports but also tennis, badminton and squash. Sports with a lot of start-stop movements, sprints or bumps put a lot of strain on the knee joint. X-rays are usually recommended only if the child is older than the usual age range to avoid unnecessary radiation. What causes knock knees: Contact sports with high impacts put stress on the knee joint. Sit on a chair with feet touching the floor. Corrective Exercise for Knock Knee 1: Straight Leg Raises For muscles in front of thigh. Perform these exercises in 10 repetitions for each leg and gradually with weights. However, you do not have to worry about this knock knees. The diagnosis can be made during a physical examination by an orthopedic surgeon. Knock Knee or Genu Valgum of mild degree can be corrected by strengthening exercises, which help to realign and stabilize the knees. When the knees of a standing child touch but ankles do not is usually said to have knock knees. In most cases they resolve itself within the age of 7, without treatment.īut if the condition appears when the child is older than 6 there may be an underlying bone disease such as osteomalacia or rickets. Bracing will not correct the normal growth pattern of knock knees.As bow legged, knocked knees can be considered a normal stage of development in most growing children.Children with knock knees can participate in sports.Knock knees may continue into adulthood but should not cause any problems.A pediatric orthopedic surgeon can diagnose bowlegs and knock-knees. Generally surgery is performed for cosmetic reasons and not because of medical necessity. Knock-knee is when the knees are close together and space between the ankles is increased. Only rarely is surgery needed (after 10 years of age) to help correct the leg shape through a technique called guided growth. There are no braces, cables or orthotics that will make the slightest difference. You might want to take a photograph of your child standing and then another photograph several months later to follow the straightening process. Most cases do not require treatment.įor most children, the treatment is observation, allowing time and growth to correct the legs. Despite understandable concern, knock knees do not usually cause problems in later life. Very rarely it can be caused from infection in the bone or arthritis of the joint. In some cases, the knock knees are due to injury to the soft growth areas in the bones near the knees. Mild knock knees may persist into adulthood. Usually between the ages of seven to ten the legs become straight. The child walks or runs with his knees very close together, perhaps even touching when walking.

By age four, it is common to see knock knees or genu valgum. The legs naturally bow outward and begin to straighten as the baby grows. The bowing is getting worse One side is more bowed than the other The knock-knees are getting worse One leg is worse than the other Your child has a limp or. In the first 12 months of life, bowed legs are common. Physiological knock knees is seen from three to five years of age it resolves with growth by age eight.