What Are Knocked Knees?
Knock knees, also called genu valgum, is a type of knee condition. Knock knees occur when your knees tilt together, but your ankles stay apart. This condition usually affects ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵren between 3–7 years old.
Most ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵren experience some kind of knock knees as they grow. The condition usually corrects itself as your ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵ gets older. However, if your ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵ’s knock knees do not go away, they may need treatment.
What Causes Knock Knees?
Children start out bow-legged. As they grow, their legs begin to straighten. When they learn to walk, their knees tilt inward. The tilting causes their knees to touch, creating knocked knees. In most cases, your ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵ will outgrow having knocked knees.
There are other conditions that can cause knock knees:
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Metabolic problems with the bone
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Injury or infection in the leg
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Obesity or being overweight
Knock Knees Symptoms
The most common symptom of knock knees is visible when your ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵ stands. If your ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵ has knock knees, you may notice that your ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵ’s knees touch and their ankles stay far apart.
Your ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵ may also experience knee pain or join stiffness especially with activity.
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How Is Knock Knees Diagnosed?
Your ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵ’s health care provider will perform a physical exam to check your ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵ for knock knees. They will look at your ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵ’s legs, knees, and ankles. Your provider may also measure the distance between your ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵ’s ankle bones. If your ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵ is older than two years old, your provider may suggest an X-ray.
Knock Knees Treatment
The first step in treating knock knees is pinpointing the cause of your ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵ’s knock knees. Most cases of knock knees do not need treatment.
Treatment options depend on the age of your ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵ and severity of their knock knees. Medications and nutrition supplements treat knock knees caused by rickets.
Knocked Knee Surgery
If your ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵ’s knock knees do not improve with time and treatment, your provider may suggest surgery. Knock knee surgery is called guided growth surgery.
Guided growth surgery is an option for ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵren still growing. Your ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵ’s surgeon inserts a small metal bracket in your ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵ’s knee to help direct future bone growth. The surgeon removes the growth plate when bone angle improves. In more severe cases, or for older ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵren who are done growing, a surgery to cut and realign the bone may be needed.
Your pediatric surgeon may recommend simple exercises and physical therapy after surgery. Exercises and physical therapy can improve your ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵ’s strength and range of motion.
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