Bow Legs: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
Bow Legged (Genu Varum) is a condition that causes the leg to be bent outward at the knee, creating a wider space between at the level of the knees - and the toes pointed inwards.
Bow Legged (Genu Varum) is a condition that causes the leg to be bent outward at the knee, creating a wider space between at the level of the knees – and the toes pointed inwards. This can be seen as the opposite to Knock Knees.
Bow legs are not inherently dangerous for your health. Still, they can increase strain on muscles and joints when standing for an extended period or walking over long distances. How your legs bend can affect the position of the hips. This can lead to back pain when sitting or standing for extended periods.
Also, forcing you into an unnatural posture that puts pressure on your spine where ligaments may be at their weakest.
Who do bow legs usually affect?
Infants and toddlers are prone to bow legs. The problem is seldom dangerous. By the time they reach 18 months old, babies born bow legged typically outgrow it. Older children can also develop bow legs as well. While less common it may also be seen in adults, especially women.
What are the causes of Bowed Legs?
Many different factors can cause someone to develop bowed legs. For example, Bowlegs might be a symptom of an underlying illness, such as Blount’s disease or rickets.
However, some of the most common causes include:
- Abnormalities in foot structure
- Muscle tone problems
- Nerve supply problems
- Hereditary factors
- Pregnancy
- Obesity
What is Blount’s disease?
Blount’s disease (adolescent Blount’s Disease) is a growth disorder of the tibia, the larger of the two bones in the lower leg. It most often affects children between 4 and 10 years old but can also occur in younger children and adults. Blount’s disease is caused by an abnormal growth plate of the bone around the ankles, which causes the ankles to turn inward.
What is Rickets?
Rickets is a disorder that affects bone growth and development. It is caused by a lack of vitamin D, which helps the body absorb calcium and phosphorus from food. Rickets most often occur in children who are not exposed to enough sunlight, which is how the body produces vitamin D. It is also more common in children younger than age one and those with chronic diseases such as cystic fibrosis, kidney disease or celiac disease (gluten intolerance).
What are some symptoms?
Depending on the cause of bow legs, there may be different symptoms.
However, some of the most common symptoms include:
- The legs are bent outward at the knee
- Wider space between the knees than normal
- Toes turned inward (otherwise known as pigeon toes)
How can Bow Legs be corrected?
There are a few different ways that it can be corrected. Treatment will vary depending on the cause of the bow legs.
- If bow legs are caused by an illness, such as Blount’s disease or rickets, treatment will focus on curing the condition.
- If caused by a birth defect, surgery may be needed to correct the deformity. Bow legs can also be corrected with a shoe lift or brace that fits into your shoe and helps bend the ankles back in the right direction.
- If bow legs are caused by an injury, they will slowly begin to heal on their own as time passes. However, this process is often slow and can take many months or even years.
- Physical therapy may also be recommended to help strengthen the muscles and joints in the legs (and knees) and improve posture. This can help reduce pain when standing or walking. And may assist in cases where children have developed an awkward walking pattern.
How is your body affected?
Bow legs are usually not a health issue unless they lead to additional factors like flat feet or poor posture.
When you have bow legs, the curvature causes your femur (thigh bone) and tibia (shin bone) to angle inwards towards each other. The internal rotation (turning in of the leg) can place excess stress on the inner side of your knees, leading to wear and tear on the joints over time.
The change in the legs position (and toes pointed inwards) can also cause the ankle and foot joints to twist out of alignment, further injuring these areas. All this extra stress can increase discomfort with arthritis in the knees, ankles and feet intentionally developing over time.
Bow legs may also lead to lower back pain and hip pain as the inward angle of your legs can cause a change in the position of the pelvis and the potential for excessive curvature of the spine – Lordosis.
Bow legs are usually not a health issue unless they lead to additional factors like flat feet or poor posture. However, you should always speak with a recognized health care provider if you are experiencing pain or discomfort.
How are bow legs diagnosed?
Bowlegs are relatively easy to identify, but your health care professional will be able to tell you the severity of the problem or whether it’s due to an underlying illness.
During your appointment, your health care provider will most likely take measures of both legs and observe how you walk. They may request an X-ray or other imaging studies to look for any bone anomalies. It may also be necessary to call for blood tests if illness or disease is considered a factor.
How are Bow Legs treated?
Most cases of bow legs do not require any treatment. However, there are a few ways that bow legs may need to be treated when required.
Treatment will vary depending upon the cause:
- Physical therapy: A physical therapist can help to strengthen your child’s muscles and improve their posture. Suppose bow legging is caused by an abnormal gait. In that case, physical therapy may help to improve muscle strength and balance and help the individual to walk more normally.
- Orthotics: Custom-made shoe inserts (orthotics) can help to correct the alignment of your feet and ankles.
- Surgery: If bow legs are caused by a structural abnormality in your bones, surgery may be recommended to correct it.
- A combination of treatments may be necessary.
No matter the cause, Bowed legs can affect the quality of life. Seek medical attention if you suspect that you or your child has bow legs to prescribe the appropriate treatment. However, most people can live an everyday, active life without significant problems with proper care.
Finally
Bow legged individuals often have a range of symptoms that may affect their day-to-day lives. For example, you may experience pain in the knees, ankles and hips when standing or walking for long periods. Bow legs can also lead to poor posture and affect an individual’s ability to walk correctly.
There are a variety of treatments available for bow leggedness, depending on the cause of the condition. In most cases, bow legs do not require treatment, but if they are causing pain or discomfort, several treatments may help.
Make sure to seek professional assistance if you feel that bow legs are causing you too much discomfort.
PLEASE NOTE
PostureGeek.com does not provide medical advice. This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical attention. The information provided should not replace the advice and expertise of an accredited health care provider. Any inquiry into your care and any potential impact on your health and wellbeing should be directed to your health care provider. All information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical care or treatment.