Also called genu valgum, knock knees are a medical condition in which the knees look tilted inward like they are touching each other as you walk. Your ankles, however, remain apart (with a wide gap of 3.1 inches). It’s more common in children but can last till adulthood.
Knock knees don’t usually cause severe pain, but they can make walking difficult and increase your risk of developing joint issues. If your legs look awkward when walking or you experience any discomfort, see a knock knee or bow leg specialist in Mumbai. The question is, can knock knees be corrected in adults by exercise. Let’s find out.
Causes of Knock Knees in Adults
Knowing what causes knock knees in adults will help you choose the best treatment plan.
1) Genetic Factors:
If either of your parents has had knock knees or if the condition runs in the family, there’s a chance the offspring might develop it, too. Certain connective tissue disorders and congenital conditions can also increase the risk.
2) Underlying Medical Conditions:
Those diagnosed with rickets can have knock knees. It can occur in osteoporosis patients, a condition that weakens your bones. Knock knees can also occur in people with a history of an accident that fractured their bones or severely injured their ligaments.
3) Developmental Issues:
Bow legs are common in babies. They usually outgrow the condition. Some, however, develop knock knees that persist into adulthood.
Exercises for Correcting Knock Knees
Exercise can strengthen the muscles in your knees. Before including exercises in your regimen, discuss them with a specialist. Exercise alone may not completely cure knock knees, but it can offer significant relief from discomfort while walking.
Here are a few common types of exercises that can help:
- Lying Abduction: Lie on your right or left side with one leg on top of another. Slightly raise one leg and hold it for 1-2 seconds before putting it down. Do it for 5-10 minutes.
- Wall Squat: Stand against the wall with your knees shoulder-width apart and your body away from it. Squat and hold the position for 5 seconds.
- Bridge Pose: Lie on your back with your knees shoulder-width apart. Lift your hips toward the ceiling while keeping your feet on the floor.
In addition to these, yoga poses, like warrior pose and tree pose, can improve your knee’s alignment, build muscle strength, and improve posture.
Benefits of Physical Therapy
Here’s why physical therapy with exercises is recommended for people with knock knees:
- Improved flexibility will reduce the inward tilting of the knees
- Improved muscle strength through exercises will help with your knee alignment
- It improves posture and balance
Surgical Interventions
If the knock knees are severe and do not get better with exercises and non-invasive treatment, surgical intervention is necessary. The doctor for knock knees treatment in Mumbai will perform osteotomy — a procedure that implants metal plates (which work as permanent walking aid) into your knee joints. They keep your knees aligned. Knee replacement can also be performed for knock knees, although it’s rare.
