What Are Knock Knees?
Knock knees, medically termed genu valgum, is a congenital structural abnormality that affects the angle of the knees. Parents often refer to knock knees as “X-shaped” legs, where the knees are touching one another whilst the feet are wide apart when standing.
Knock knees are determined by either the angular difference between the thigh bone (femur) and the leg bone (tibia) through an x-ray or by measuring the gap between the ankles when someone is standing with their knees together.
What Are The Causes of Knock Knees?
Knock knees are differentiated into physiological knock knees or pathological knock knees. Physiological knock knees are part of the normal development process of a child and are caused by the changes in the angles of the hip, thigh, knee, and foot. Physiological knock knees will generally resolve as the child age as the angles of the knock knees are mild. However, in moderate to severe cases, treatment will be necessary.
Pathological knock knees are far less common and are associated with the following conditions:
- Skeletal dysplasia
- Rickets disease (Vitamin D deficiency)
- Injury to the growth plates of the femur or tibia
- Infection involving the knee or leg bones
Some tend to feel a sharp stabbing pain when they take their first step upon waking up. This pain is often significant enough to make you limp for the next few minutes, and totally spoils your morning. It can also happen when you are getting up after a long meeting, making you feel embarrassed in front of your colleagues.
Other associated causes of knock knees include:
- Overweight or obesity
- Joint hypermobility
- Muscular imbalances of the hips or thigh
- Leg length difference
- Flat feet
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Signs and Symptoms of Knock Knees
Children with knock knees may not present with any symptoms and are able to carry out normal activities without difficulty. However, knock knees can potentially lead to other knee problems as the child grows older.
Symptoms of knock knees include:
- Pain around the knee
- Limping
- Aches and pains around the hips or thigh
- Difficulty sprinting or jumping
Knock Knees Treatment
Treatment for knock knees is dependent on the severity and the underlying cause of the problem. It usually involves the use of orthoses in conjunction with exercises to influence a change in the structural alignment.
Treatment for knock knees includes:
- Customised knee orthosis
- Customised foot orthoses
- Strength and conditioning program
- Surgical intervention may be required for severe cases that shows no improvement with non-surgical treatment
