What are Knock-Knees?
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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.
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New: Discuss this ArticlePosted by: anon15947
i have knocked knees too ..it is frustrating because i play soccer, and since i run pretty fast, my knees get in the way, and i trip and fall, and most of the time, i hurt myself,
pretty bad. so i'm hoping to get surgery before i'm done in high school, so i don't have to worry about this later on in life.
Posted by: anon15484
i am 22, female, african american and i am very knocked kneed, my legs are very close at the top (my thighs) and from the knees down they are apart. i really hate this and i feel embarrassed when i walk especially with someone behind me. i dont wear shorts, capris or skirts. the problem hasnt been painful but sometimes i wonder if it would become an issue later in my life. hopefully i'm not too old to grow out of it because i definitely wont be getting surgery because i'm still a very beautiful person inside and out and i wont let this ruin my self esteem or confidence and neither should any of you guys.. and i am very very knocked kneed its horrible.. keep ya head up and ya confidence too!
Posted by: anon14633
i'm 17 and i totally feel the exact same way....not too long ago was when i had to correct my walk because of being pigeon-toed and knockneed.... i mean i learned how to have my feet pointing outward but i still have that appearance where my knees are still pointing inward...and to be quite honest it's so frustrating because it's true.... you do have that insecurity that when you walk that maybe people are staring at your knees...i just want straight legs so that i can feel confident walking in a skirt or even wearing skinny jeans... i know that if you're obese it worsens the appearance but what happens if you try to tone your legs will the appearance become less.... i mean if all it takes is just exercise then ill do it but surgery...from what i read from the think twice comment i'm a little scared....but for all the women and men who feel insecure because of their knock knees try not to let if bum your day or get in the way of ruining your chances of getting with some chick or dude...if you know you're beautiful or handsome inside out and someone just can't see that..maybe you just need to like somebody else...=] thats what i do...but if anyone has any suggestions about this..please reply..thanks=]
Posted by: anon14489
Hi Im Elizabeth and Im 15. I have always been so embarrassed by it. Like when I walk down the hall way I have to twist and turn my body to walk and people are like why do you walk so dang weird? I'm too embarrassed to tell them. Just recently we were at tennis practice and two of what I thought were my friends demonstrated how I walked for everyone. I was so embarrassed and mad. Im so not the one to cry because I have been through ALOT and I just broke down. I am really athletic I cheer I play tennis, run track and I do gymnastics and Im going to play volleyball this year and me having knocked-knees really hurts my knees and my back. When I tumble for cheerleading I always have stupid bruises. I was a two time state champion pole vaulter and I set the state record twice as a middle schooler and I still hold it but I recently gave it up because running hurts me soo bad. I love running but I get to the point where I dont even want to. But to top it all off my Dad thinks Im just being needy he thinks I will grow out of it.
I really would like to get surgery or braces or something. Does anyone know what I can tell my dad to convince him? Posted by: anon14265
Hi! I'm 26 years of age and didn't even realize till today that I'm knock-kneed. My legs were always bent inwards at the knee, but I didn't realize it was that bad. After reading the posts above, I could relate to so many of the problems that others have stated. I have injured my ankles a million times and keep bumping into things. Surprisingly, my knees have never hampered my salsa... in fact I've been told that I dance, as well as walk beautifully. But wearing skirts and tights is a total no-no for me, since the shape of the legs becomes quite obvious. Is there any other treatment, besides surgery that can be used at this age? It would be nice if any medic out there could air his opinion. Thanks!
Prerna
Posted by: anon14189
my son is 6 years old and has been having knee pain for a couple of years. 2 years ago they did x-rays of his knees and said they looked fine. today his doctor told me he has knock knees. is this what has been causing his pain?
Posted by: shaza
I am 24 years old, and have recently discovered i have knocked knees. I say only recently because my friends noticed at work before i knew there was a problem. I used to wear skinny jeans all the time, but now i hate them because of my legs. my friends tell me its not a big deal. The thing is before i knew there was something abnormal i wore what i wanted and i never got people staring at me and i was confident, it was only when i realised that my legs were different that i became more aware of the problem. so really, i might just go out tomorrow and forget about my legs and get the skinny jeans out again! I personally would love straight legs, but i have a busy life so to be honest i dont think i could deal with the whole healing process.
For the younger girls who think they wont get boyfriends, honestly your legs have nothing to do with it, its your confidence, if you think there is a problem they will and as you get older you wont give a crap about others!! Posted by: anon14025
I have something called multipul epiphiseal dysplasia, which was inherited from my mother. I had an operation for perthes when i was 12 and even so have always suffered from knock knees. In october of last year i had to have a total right hip replacement, during the operation they also had to cut the femur in half and twist it round as the femur bowed and would have pulled the hip back out. Since having the operation i have been unable to walk with out crutches as the operation seems to have affected my right knock knee greatly. I have been told I will need to have this leg straightened in order for me to be able to walk again. I am 33 and a single mother of a 12 year old and am worried about what the operation would entail and how long i would be out of action for. i would be grateful if someone could explain the basics for me please.
Posted by: anon12047
Yes Doctor Veklich from the Ukraine does perform that kind of surgery. I came across his website and am really considering having surgery. I am 17 years old and have knock knees. I really hate it! It doesn't really give me any physical pain but it is so embarrassing and really reduces my confidence. I feel so ugly and unattractive because of it. And also, now i'm at the age where most people start dating and I feel that my knock knees are really something which will turn guys off of me. I really would love my legs to be made straight, but is it worth having surgery? I guess you could say it would be purely for cosmetic reasons. Do you know what the chances are of any complications ensuing? At the moment, I am quite an active person but will i still be able to be as active as i am now after the surgery? I'm so confused at the moment, and just don't know whether to have the surgery or not. I want straight legs but at the same time i don't want to be in pain. Please help me! What should i do?
Posted by: anon9133
Knock knees (genu valgum) is a more problem than bow legs (genu varum). There are only a few doctors who could help to resolve the problem. I heard Doctor Veklich in Ukraine, Kiev
can perform this kind of surgery. Posted by: anon8895
Well, I have an idea for all of you. I hope it works as good for you as it did for me. I am 42 and had knock knees all my life. I was always made fun of and people said it looked like I walked with a corn cob up my butt. I remember wearing braces and weird "Little House on the Prairie" shoes at night with a board in between my feet that forced my toes outward (yeah, really comfortable). Anyway, even after seeing many doctors, I think I finally found the solution - completely by accident! I was a swimmer in high school, and I have been trying to get back into shape after having my babies. I bought some flippers/fins for swimming, and I would go to the pool and grab one of those boards and put my flippers on. I would glide through the lap lane, forcing my legs up and down as fast and as big as I could (feel the burn!). Then, I would put the board away and do the same thing on my back, pushing as hard as I could (don't forget to put a hand back over your head so you don't hit the end of the pool). It's got to be as hard as you can and it has to be big strokes! What this does, besides a great workout for your thighs, is that it strengthens all those muscles and ligaments around the patella; particularly on the inside, where it is weakest. When I was in physical therapy for my knees, I remember how they showed me that the patella was loose, it moved back and forth, and that is why I was knock kneed and had knee problems. This exercise corrects it! Your knees are soooo strong, and the patella does not move anymore! Takes about 30 days or so, if once or twice a week, 20-30 minutes on each side. Give it a shot! LindaEStanley
Posted by: anon8592
I have knock knees, but only my right leg turns outward below the knee. It's not really noticeable when I wear pants, but I'm very self conscious in swimsuits, shorts, or skirts. Often, I find myself placing all my weight on my left foot and standing with my right leg and foot facing outward so that no one can tell...and I know this can't be good for my left leg to do all of the supporting in those instances. I'm 24 years old, so I'm wondering what can really be done now. I've also sprained my right ankle 12 times (literally), and I think this may be because of my knock knees. What can be done as an adult???
Posted by: anon6912
I'm 16 and have had knock knees since I was really little. I'm going to go to the doctors about it soon though because it's really taken its toll on my confidence levels. I'd rather deal with the consequences of surgery than stay like this forever.
Posted by: anon6864
I'm 17 and have knocked knees. My friends have pointed out a few times that I walk a bit strangely, so it's really discouraging and embarrassing. I feel really self conscious when I walk in public, or when walking up to someone, so this has made me extremely self conscious for years. Sometimes I also experience pain in my knees when climbing stairs.
Corrective surgery terrifies me, but I've read that orthotics usually can't fix knocked knees. Is this true? Is it still worth trying? Will I outgrow this, and if so, what can I do to speed up the process? I want to see a doctor about this, but like the person a few posts above me, my parents don't think it's a big deal. Posted by: anon5274
im 15 and have knocked knees man it sucks can anyone tell me if there is a place i can get treatment? some times my knees pain me i just wanna be normal
Posted by: wantachange
I was wondering if there are any support groups for this issue?
Posted by: anon4817
I'm 14 an have knocked knees its so embarrassing. I told my mom and asked her to let me see a doctor but she says i walk fine but i know i don't because people in school always notice it.
Posted by: anon4704
Hi, I´m 30 years old and I´ve been suffering from knock knees since my late childhood.
I´m embarrassed when people see me walking too, and I think it´s getting worse year by year ... I work out a lot, everyday, and I still don´t feel pain, but, Am I going to be like this forever? Posted by: wantachange
Hi I am a 42 year old female that has been knock knee all my life. I want the corrective surgery no matter what pain it entails. I'm tired of living with this condition that has made a spectacle of me since childhood. I wore the braces for year and they did not correct my knees. Today I'm embarrassed for people to see me walk. My husband is constantly making sure I don't fall over things. I walk with my head up and never look where I am going because I want to look proud, yet inside I just want people to stop staring. Can someone my age have the corrective surgery?
Posted by: anon4018
PLEASE THINK TWICE! I had correcitve surgery when I was fifteen to fix my knock knees. During the surgery they cut completely through both of my femurs and re-alligned my legs. Although my legs are straight I am in pain daily. I am 22 and have very advanced arthritis in both knees. The right leg is worse b/c it got infected inside the cast as it was healing. When they changed the allignment of my legs it messed with my hips, back and ankles. I see a chiropractor every week. There isn't a day that goes by that I think maybe it was a mistake to have the surgery. I cannot play soccer anymore, I can't run because it's too painful. And to put the icing on the cake I was told today that I should expect to have knee replacement surgery by the age of 35. I'm a woman and I would like to have children but I'm not even sure how my knees will handle the extra weight. I know not everyone has these results, but I urge anyone who is considering the surgery to think twice, even three times.
Posted by: anon3806
My mother had knock knees when she was younger about my age, 19, and doesn't have them anymore. I have them now and they really bother me(appearance wise) but my mother claims they wont be there forever. Is she right? Even at my age, can I still grow out of them?
Posted by: anon3553
I am 16 years old and i have knock knees. Right now i don't feel any pain and I don't have any difficulties, I don't play sports. I want to know if my condition is going to get worse specially that I am in a country where its very hard to get treatment.
Posted by: anon2711
That sounds like Compartment Syndrome. It is mostly found in runners but in also those with knock knees. The correction is minor surgery; a small incision is made in the casing surrounding the muscles in the lower legs. To ascertain whether or not you have Compartment Syndrome, a nearly painless pressure test is performed to measure the pressure existent in those muscles.
Posted by: anon1983
I am 41 years old an have knock knees - have always been this way. As of late I am having trouble with the muscles in my lower legs when I walk distances. The muscles above my ankle bone, on the outside of the leg, cramp severly. I have purchased a good walking shoe and still the pain persists. Could this be a result of the knock knees? are there any remedies I can use (exercises, implants)?
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