Having knock knees or bow legs is another posture problem although this time it is not on the spine but on the legs. Unlike others who have straight and long legs, people with knock knees or bowleggedness seem to have curved legs. Men and women having bow legs or genu valgum may find their legs unattractive so they usually cover it by wearing jeans or long pants.
How to Know if Someone Has Knock Knees?
1. Try to observe a person’s legs when he/she is wearing short pants and they should stand with feet together.
2. Look at the ankles. If the ankles are not touching each other then there is a problem.
3. Look at the knees. If the knees are not touching each other then there is a problem.
4. If there is a noticeable space between the upper or lower legs then there is a problem.
When standing with feet together, legs are considered to be in a normal shape when –
• The ankles should touch each other
• The knees should touch each other
• There is no unequal distance between the ankles or knees
• When knees are knocking each other abnormally
The Difference of Knock Knees and Bowleggedness
A person with leg posture problem has knock knees when the ankles are not touching each other but the knees are knocking each other abnormally. The legs seem to be at an angle towards each other which causes a bend inward making the knees to knock with each other.
On the other hand, having bow legs can be the opposite of knock knees though they are both leg posture problems. A person with bow legs has ankles touching each other but with knees far apart. In this condition, the legs form a diamond shape because of the outward angle of the knees. People with severe cases have legs so curved that looks like two bows forming an oval.
Causes of Knock Knees/Bowleggedness
As a child, we all have leg posture problems because it is a part of our early physical development. In this process, our skeleton was just developing and this is normal in a growing child. In fact, most growing kids who just started to walk have knock knees especially when they are at their 2nd or 3rd year. They walk with knees knocking each other.
As we grow up, we get involved in different physical activities such as cycling, sprinting, running, or simple walking. These activities can correct the bow legs or knock knees that we have as a child as we grow. At the age of 5 and 6, it is important that kids are involved in activities like these because it is the normal stage where the leg muscles are developed and the bones become stronger. As a matter of fact, doctors start treating knock knees when they see it on children beyond 6 years of age because they know that it is no longer normal.
Other Causes of Knock Knees/Bow Legs
Vitamin D Deficiency or Rickets – when Vitamin is lacking in a child’s nutrition, the child may develop a disease called ‘rickets’ which makes the bones weak. Signs of skeletal deformities are seen in patients where their legs look like bows as if they have ridden a horse all their life.
Osteomyelitis – also known as the infection of the bones, wound on it is usually blamed on depressed immune system of a person. When there is no wound on the flesh surrounding the infected bone, it can be a question to where it started. Because of the person’s weak immune system, microorganisms are said to travel and infect the bones. This disease is considered as a serious condition which needs medical attention and can cause serious knock knees when not treated.
Vitamin C Deficiency or Scurvy – Connective tissues are important in our body in order to grow with healthy structure. With the lack of Vitamin C in our body, the connective tissues will be badly affected which in turn cause weak connections between bones, muscles, ligaments, and even cells. If you notice signs and symptoms such as nosebleeds, listlessness, pinpoint hemorrhages, bruising, anemia, joint pain, bleeding gums, shortness of breath, weakened tooth dentine, and slow healing of wounds; you have to immediately see a doctor for it can already be Scurvy.
To prevent children to acquire knock knees or bow legs while young, make sure that you nourish them with foods rich in vitamins and minerals. It can be hard to have knock knees not only because of the difficulty in walking but it can also rob height and your child may become embarrassed from the appearance brought by this condition.
If you have knock knees or bow legs now, you have to start seeing an expert for check-up. To have a correct posture is an advantage and to learn how you can improve your posture, Grow Taller 4 Idiots is a great guide to start with. 
