What Are the Risks of Bow Legs?
The appearance of bow legs is very common in most babies, infants and children. Fortunately, this should not be a cause for concern, as the condition is part of a normal growth pattern. By the time the child has reached three or four years of age, the bow legs should have disappeared. Bow legs caused by an underlying disease or condition may persist, however, and can lead to pain and difficulty walking in some cases. The deformity may worsen over time, as regular pressure is put on the legs; some people are more likely to develop arthritis at an earlier age as well.
In a child with bow legs, when the ankles are touching, the knees stay apart. This condition is relatively common up until the age of three years old. Once the child begins to walk, the bow legged appearance should begin to go away.
Knock-knees are the next step in normal growth for children. When the legs begin to straighten around the age of three, knock-knees may appear. This is also a normal occurrence and may last until around the age of seven years old.
There may be some deviation in the growth process of knock knees and bow legs. If there are concerns that the knee angle is excessive, a doctor can check using a simple measuring system. Also, if there is any excessive knee angle combined with pain, then a doctor should be consulted.
If a parent is worried about bow legs or knock-knees, he or she should keep a measuring chart. Keeping a record of the child's height, weight and knee distance will be helpful. Measuring the distance between the knees over a period of time will give an idea of the child’s growth pattern.
There are certain infections and diseases that can cause bow legs. Rickets is a well-known cause of bow legs, but it is not as common a disease as it once was. Other causes may be a skeletal infection or tumors, which can only be diagnosed by a doctor. In these cases, the underlying condition is typically treated first before the leg deformities are addressed. Depending on the condition, bowing of the legs may continue or worsen over time, even when the condition causing it is treated.
In some people with a family history of arthritis, bow legs can cause it to develop early. The unusual pressure placed on the knee and ankle joints may cause pain and degeneration of the cartilage as early as age 30. Although early arthritis can cause difficulty walking, most people with mildly bowed legs do not have problems walking.
If a child has bow legs after the age of three, then a doctor should be consulted. Bow legs after this age are considered irregular. A doctor will begin to make assessments, and x-rays of the bones will be taken to ascertain any problems. Surgery is the only way to correct an abnormal knee angle, but it is usually not attempted before the age of ten years old. This will allow the normal development of the bow legs to knock-knees pattern to occur.
Written by Garry Crystal
