By the time most babies begin walking, their legs have straightened.
Abnormal bone development. Injuries or bone fractures that don’t heal properly. Leg length discrepancy (especially if only one leg is bowed). [6] X Research source Lead or fluoride poisoning.
Bowlegged children don’t feel any pain or discomfort as a symptom.
In some cases, the doctor will order a blood test to identify or rule out serious or underlying causes for bow legs. [10] X Research source
In most cases, bow legs don’t require intervention. The child’s legs will likely straighten as they grow, typically by the time they’re 3 years old. [13] X Research source Children might also develop knock-knees (where the knees bend toward each other) while their legs straighten out, but it usually resolves by age 8. [14] X Research source
Braces are usually prescribed when there’s an underlying cause for the bowed legs, like rickets or Blount’s Disease, or if they won’t straighten on their own. Besides braces, there are also special shoes or casts that your child can wear to straighten out their legs.
If you suspect your child has rickets or a vitamin D deficiency, have them tested to ensure their vitamin D levels are healthy.
The procedure is minimally invasive and encourages the bowed leg(s) to straighten as your child’s bones and muscles develop. [18] X Research source
Increase the weight or add repetitions as your legs become stronger. Try adding squats and lunges to strengthen your knees specifically. Be mindful of your joints and stop exercising if the motion becomes painful or too tiring.
Lie down on your side. Support your head with one hand and place the other in front of you for balance. Put one leg on top of the other. Take a breath and then exhale as you lift the top leg up into the air. Bring the leg back down to complete one rep. Repeat the exercise on your other side.
Include Cow Face and Forward Bends in your yoga routine. If you prefer pilates, create a routine focused on Ballerina Arms and Roll Ups.
To do a knee bend, have the massage therapist push your bent knees into your chest, hold them for a moment, and then pull them forward again.
If you’re a skeletally mature adult, the only way to effectively and permanently reshape your legs is through surgery. [25] X Research source
This corrective surgery is called an osteotomy. It involves cutting bones to reshape or realign them if they’ve grown irregularly or out of place. Most osteotomies for bow legs reshape the tibia (shinbone) under the knee. Sometimes, the femur (thigh bone) is reshaped above the knee, too. [27] X Research source If the bowleggedness makes one leg shorter than the other, your doctor may recommend leg lengthening surgery.
Follow up with your doctor as prescribed. Your external frame might be removed ahead of schedule if the bone is strong enough. A typical osteotomy only takes about an hour and most patients spend just one night in the hospital for observation. Osteotomy patients usually gain about 0. 5 inches (1. 3 cm) in height as a result of the operation.
As your bones lengthen and your muscles grow stronger, any lingering pain in your hips and knees will fade away.
