Bowed legs can occur in all age groups and has several distinct causes.
Causes of Bowed Legs
There are a number of different causes of bowed legs.
Normal Development
As a child develops, different parts of the body grow at a different rate.
Christine Schneider / Getty Images
As a result, skeletal alignment can change causing some unusual appearance of the extremities at specific ages.
The most common cause of bowed legs in the toddler age range is simply normal development.
Blount’s Disease
Blount’s disease is a condition that can occur in childhood and adolescence.
The problem in these children is an abnormal growth plate at the top of theshin bone (tibia).
Fortunately, with the advent of fortified foods, nutritional rickets has become very uncommon in the developed world.
If the wear is more on the inner side of the knee joint, a bow-legged deformity may develop.
Treatment Options
Treatment of bow legs depends entirely on the cause of the condition.
so that determine the cause of a bow-legged problem, you should be evaluated by a healthcare provider.
Adults
Adults with severe arthritis most often considerknee replacement surgery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Osteoarthritisis a potential cause of bowed legs in adults.
Bowed legs usually only get worse with age if they are sparked by an underlying disease or condition.
For example, Paget’s disease of the bone is a rare disorder that typically affects an older population.
One sign of the disease is the enlargement of bones, which can result in bowed legs.
Leg braces can be used for toddlers with bowed legs sparked by Blount’s disease.
As a child grows, the bracing guides their legs into a straighter position to prevent bowed legs.
Improvement is often seen within the first 12 months of this treatment.
If a child’s legs still aren’t improved by age 4, surgery may be required.
Genu varum andvarus deformityare medical terms used to describe bowed legs.
It indicates that the knee joint is bowed or bent outward.
Espandar R, Mortazavi SM, Baghdadi T.Angular deformities of the lower limb in children.Asian J Sports Med.
2009;4(1):30-2.
2008;34(3):623-43. doi:10.1016/j.rdc.2008.05.004
American College of Rheumatology.Paget’s disease of bone.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Blount’s disease.
