Knock knees
Many parents are understandably concerned if their child has a ‘knock-kneed’ appearance when they start to walk. This is when the lower legs bend outwards, so that when the knees are touching, the ankles are spread apart (medical name genu valgum).
In almost all cases there is no need to be concerned. Between the ages of 2 and 8 knock knees is common. Most affected children are entirely normal. With the passage of time the legs will become straight as the child grows. In these ‘normal’ cases the deformity is symmetrical (the same on both sides). A helpful way of assessing the problem is to get the child to stand up straight with his or her knees touching and measure the distance between the bones that stick out on the inside of the ankles. As the child grows this distance should become less.
Attempts to ‘cure’ knock knees with exercises, shoe inserts or wearing splints at night make no difference.
Occasionally there is a medical cause for a child having genu valgum. In these cases the deformity is usually greater, not the same on both sides and becomes more obvious with time. Causes include fractures and other injuries, developmental abnormalities and nutritional problems such as rickets.
In older children (those over the age of 8 to 10 years) whose knock knees have not straightened out, various surgical operations may be considered.
Last Reviewed: 05 June 2008
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