I Think There May Be Something Wrong with My Son's Legs

My doctor mentioned it to me when my son was 2 (he's now 2.5), and while in dr office, Lucas sat down w/ his legs bent back, so that his legs formed a "W", dr. said to keep on him when he sits like that, to change his sitting position to "Indian style" or the Lotus position in yoga, and his knees are better, but not quite straight yet. Not worried though, doc (Dr. David Morris at Glen Ellyn Clinic, he's great) says it's normal development for most kids and they do grow out of it. :)

Hi there-

Sounds normal (see below) but I would talk to your Pediatrician on the next visit to be sure:

What are knock-knees?

A standing child whose knees touch but ankles do not, is usually said to have knock-knees. During childhood, knock-knees are a part of normal growth and development. They usually become apparent when a child is 2 to 3 years old and may increase in severity until about age 4. If this condition does not appear until a child is 6 years of age or older, however, an underlying bone disease may be present.
During childhood, knock-knees usually develop as an effort to maintain balance, particularly when the child begins to walk or if the child's foot rolls inward or tuns outward. When a child has knock-knees, both knees usually lean inward to an equal degree. One knee, however, may "knock" less than the other, or may even remain straight.

Overweight children are most likely to develop knock-knees, because their developing bones and joints have trouble supporting their weight and they tend to lean inward. Knock-knees usually correct themselves by the time a child is five years old. Occasionally, however, they persist into adolescence.

Severe knock-knees usually wind up restricting a child's physical activities. The child cannot run easily and may not want to participate in sports or other physical activities. If knock-knees persist into adolescence, problems of appearance as well as physical activity may arise.


What causes knock-knees?

Knock-knees most often develop as a part of natural growth. Diseases, such as osteomyelitis (a disease of the bone) and rickets, may cause permanent knock-knees. Injury to the growth area of the tibia (shinbone) often impairs bone growth and may cause knock-knees. This injury usually occurs only in one leg, resulting in one knocked knee.

How are knock-knees diagnosed?

Knock-knees are obvious when a child stands with the legs straight and the toes pointed forward. A physician can determine the severity of knock-knees by observing the position of the child's legs, knees, and ankles, and by measuring the distance between the child's inner ankle bones: the greater the distance between the ankles, the more severe the condition. The physician will also take a complete medical history. X-ray films are usually taken to determine the severity of bone deformity.

How are knock-knees treated?

Specific treatment for knock-knees will be determined by your child's physician based on:
your child's age, overall health, and medical history
the extent of the condition
your child's tolerance for specific procedures, or therapies
expectations for the course of the condition
your opinion or preference
A mild case of knock-knees usually requires no treatment, since it often corrects itself. More severe knock-knees may require the use of orthopaedic appliances. Your child's physician may prescribe a night brace, particularly if a family history of knock-knees exists. A night brace is attached to a shoe and works by pulling the knee up into a straight position. Orthopaedic shoes, usually equipped with a heel wedge and occasionally an arch pad, may also be recommended.
If braces and shoes do not correct knock-knees, surgery may be recommended. The surgery may involve either influencing growth or cutting and straightening the bone. For the best results, surgery should be performed when a girl is bout 10 years old and a boy about 11. This allows time for the bones to straighten on their own.

Take him to the doctor. It may not be as bad as you think, but it will give you piece of mind and if it is bad, it may give your son the help he needs.

Good luck,
K.

GOOGLE.........KNOCK KNEES

I guess there a couple of things to look at. Even though his knees touch are his feet straight or do they turn in or out? If they are straight I would just mention your concerns to your doctor. Call them and ask if they think he needs to be seen. Let them make the decision because they will have certain criteria they look at. If his feet turn in or out take him to the doctor so they can determine if it needs further treatment to correct or if it is mild enough that time and growth will correct it. He may need physical therapy and/or orthotics to correct it. I am speaking from experience since my now 4 yr old went through this when he was 18 months old. He is what they call low tone which means there is excess elasticity in his joints. People that are low tone have trouble sitting cross legged(the therapist told me to not let him sit like this). People who are high tone have little elasticity so they tend to be sprinters. Does he W sit? This means that when he sits on the floor his legs form a W where his legs are bent and his butt sits on the floor between his legs. If he does you need to correct him. Just tell him to fix or move his legs. At first you will need to show him what you mean but he should get it pretty quickly. Feel free to email me if you have any other questions. Good Luck.
____@____.com

if you are unsure, take him to the doctor

Michelle,
My son who is just 2 has a similar issue, but his knees don't quite touch, and his toes are inward pointing. We freaked and took him to the doc aroun 20 months old to see what we could do about it, the answer is it is called tibial torsion it is from them being in the womb and they should outgrom by the time they are 6-8. The doctor recommended only stride ride shoes with good arches and addition arches which stride rite will glue in for you. I think they are like $5. Then when he sits to have him sit indian style to help with the hips turning inward, if his condition does not improve in 6 months he goes to an orthopedic pediatric doctor.
As for in the ole days with splints and braces they have proven that they didn't help. We really noticed it with him when he would run and sometimes trip over his feet.
I would suggest you talk to your doctor about it at his next exam to see what you can do about it, but our doc said shoes is the most important.
Hope this calms you down a bit.
K.

My kid's legs did that too, and it's not been a problem...they grew out of it, but you might want to give the doc a call or at least mention it at the next visit, just for peace of mind.