Bowlegs in children

Bowlegs is considered a normal part of the growth in babies and toddlers. In young children, bowlegs are not painful or uncomfortable and do not interfere with a child’s ability to walk, run, or play.

It is a condition in which the legs curve outward at an extreme angle at the knees while the child’s feet are together.

Children typically outgrow bowlegs sometime after 18-24 months of age. Rarely, bowlegs are caused by a vitamin D deficiency (also called rickets) or a condition called Blount’s disease, abnormal bone development. Even more uncommonly, bowlegs are caused by rare genetic disorders.

If left untreated, bowlegs can lead to:

Are bowlegs normal in children?

Bowed legs are perfectly normal in children, especially when they’re just learning to walk. But they can become a concern over time. Most children have bowed legs because of the fetal position, but it normally corrects itself over time. As children develop better muscles in their legs and learn how to stand and walk, their legs straighten out.

• In infants: Bowleggedness often occurs between birth and 24 months.
• Toddlers: Between about 24 and 36 months, toddlers’ legs become aligned.
• Young children: When they’re between 3 and 5 years old, children may develop knock knees, a condition in which the knees tilt inward.
• As children grow, their legs continue to straighten out. By age 7 to 8, or occasionally closer to the teens, children’s walking patterns typically become normal or near-normal.

How can I tell if my child is bowlegged?

This is a very recognizable condition. If your child stands with his toes forward and his ankles together and his knees don’t touch, he’s bowlegged.

Common symptoms of bowlegs in children include:

When should you be concerned about bowlegs?

If your child has bowlegs along with any of the following symptoms, they may have a more serious condition:

• bowlegs that continue to get worse after the age of 2
• the asymmetric appearance of the bowing
• difficulty walking
• knee or hip pain
• Problems with advanced forms of movement, like running
• Inability to stand upright
• Muscle and bone-related problems

You should talk to a pediatrician or orthopedic doctor if your child’s legs are still bowed beyond the age of 2, or if the condition becomes worse.

How can you look after a child with bowlegs at home?

1. Read up about the condition and understand what is affecting your child and how you can provide support.
2. Giving your child the right pair of shoes can help to manage bowed legs.
3. Resolving diet and nutrition issues like a vitamin D deficiency can increase the chances of your child’s bowed legs straightening out.
4. Keep up the doctor’s appointments
5. Provide emotional support and stability to your child
6. If your child’s weight is worsening the condition of bowed legs, take steps to maintain his weight.

Bowlegs Care at Nairobi Spine and Orthopaedic Centre in Kenya

As a top orthopedics center in Kenya, we have vast experience managing all aspects of bowlegs. Our surgeons offer comprehensive assessment, diagnosis, and treatment for children and young adults with conditions affecting their lower limbs.

We have extensive experience treating disorders of the feet, ankles, knees, legs, and hips. Whether the patient is an infant, child, or adolescent, our goal is to help our patients live full, independent lives.