What are Knock-Knees?
Known scientifically as genu valgum, knock-knees is a condition in which the lower legs are angled outward. When a person with severe knock-knees stands with his or her legs fully straightened, the knees will touch, but the ankles will not. A similar condition, known as bowlegs, occurs when the knees angle outward, such that they do not touch when a person stands with his or her feet together.
Both bowlegs and knock-knees are a normal part of child development. Typically, children will appear slightly bowlegged during the first three years of life. Around age two or three, children will develop some degree of knock-knees as they learn to walk properly. Normal developmental knock-knees generally straighten out by age five or six.
In some cases, however, knock-knees may worsen or persist into late childhood. Overweight children are at a particularly high risk for persistent knock-knees, as the legs may lean inward in an attempt to support the extra weight. In addition, diseases such as rickets or osteomyelitis can contribute to knock-knees.
In other cases, knock-knees may develop due to an injury to the growth area of the shinbone. Typically, injury results in only one knocked knee. Knock-knees that develop with no known cause are known as idiopathic genu valgum.
Untreated, persistent knock-knees can be very damaging to an individual's self-esteem during late childhood and adolescence. Adults with knock-knees are also more susceptible to injury and chronic knee problems. Many individuals with knock-knees develop osteoarthritis, a painful condition caused by the uneven wearing of cartilage inside the joints. In very severe cases, knock-knees may cause difficulty in walking.
Luckily, knock-knees can easily be corrected, particularly when they are detected early. Physicians typically prescribe appliances such as night braces for children who have a family history of knock-knees. Orthopedic shoes may also be effective.
If the appliances fail to correct knock-knees, surgery may also be recommended. For children, corrective surgery is most effective around the age of 10 or 11. However, if knock-knees go untreated and persist into adulthood, total knee replacement surgery may be necessary to relieve pain.
Written by Sally Foster
