Knock Knees
Symptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More

Learn About Knock Knees

What is the definition of Knock Knees?

Knock knees are a condition in which the knees touch, but the ankles do not touch. The legs turn inward.

What are the alternative names for Knock Knees?

Genu valgum

What are the causes of Knock Knees?

Infants start out with bowlegs because of their folded position while in their mother's womb. The legs begin to straighten once the child starts to walk (at about 12 to 18 months). By age 3, the child becomes knock-kneed. When the child stands, the knees touch but the ankles are apart.

By puberty, the legs straighten out and most children can stand with the knees and ankles touching (without forcing the position).

Knock knees can also develop as a result of a medical problem or disease, such as:

  • Injury of the shinbone (only one leg will be knock-kneed)
  • Osteomyelitis (bone infection)
  • Overweight or obesity
  • Rickets (a disease caused by a lack of vitamin D)
What are the current treatments for Knock Knees?

Knock knees are not treated in most cases.

If the problem continues after age 7, the child may use a night brace. This brace is attached to a shoe.

Surgery may be considered for knock knees that are severe and continue beyond late childhood.

Who are the top Knock Knees Local Doctors?
Christopher Makarewich
Elite in Knock Knees
Elite in Knock Knees

Orthopaedics - Pcros

Riverton, UT 
Experience:
13+ years
Languages Spoken:
English
Accepting New Patients
Offers Telehealth

Christopher Makarewich, MD is a pediatric orthopaedic surgeon and Instructor in the University of Utah Department of Orthopaedics, seeing patients at Primary Children's Hospital and Shriners Hospital for Children – Salt Lake City.Dr. Makarewich specializes in limb lengthening and reconstruction for limb deformities of any cause, including trauma, infection, congenital differences, and genetic/syndromic disorders. In addition, he also focuses on hip disorders including hip dysplasia, Legg-Calves-Perthes disease, and slipped capital femoral epiphysis, as well as pediatric orthopaedic trauma. He finds the process of restoring a child's function and ability to stay or become active to be incredibly rewarding.Dr. Makarewich graduated cum laude from Colby College in Maine. He received his medical degree with honors from Dartmouth Medical School in New Hampshire where he was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha honor society and received the Freddie H. Fu, MD Outstanding Student Award in Orthopaedics as well as the Frederick P. Lord Award in Anatomy. He completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at the University of Utah and went on to a pediatric orthopaedic surgery fellowship at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. He then continued to further subspecialize in pediatric limb lengthening and reconstructive surgery through a fellowship with the International Center for Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction at the Rubin Institute in Baltimore, Maryland. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the Pediatric Orthopedic Society of North America, and the Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction Society.When Dr. Makarewich is not working he can be found spending time with his family and enjoying the outdoors while hiking, skiing, and mountain biking. Dr. Makarewich is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Knock Knees. His top areas of expertise are Knock Knees, Congenital Femoral Deficiency, Hypochondroplasia, Osteotomy, and Tenotomy.

Venkat R. Rapuri
Advanced in Knock Knees
Advanced in Knock Knees

Texas Health Orthopedic Specialists

902 W Randol Mill Rd, Ste 120, 
Arlington, TX 
Languages Spoken:
English, Hindi, Telugu, Urdu

"Board-certified orthopedic surgeon Venkat Rapuri, M.D., is fellowship-trained in adult reconstruction (total joint replacement surgeries). He has more than two decades of clinical experience focused on providing advanced and minimally invasive orthopedic surgical care to active individuals and athletes.Fellowship-trained in adult reconstruction</li>Fellow, American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons</li>Fellow, American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons</li></ul>Dr. Rapuri received his medical degree from the Guntur Medical College, NTR University of Health Sciences in Guntur, India, in 1994. He went on to train in the area of general surgery through the prestigious Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom before earning his master's degree in orthopaedics at James Cook University Hospital in Teesside, U.K. Dr. Rapuri came to the United States in 2003 to complete his internship and orthopedic residency training at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Pa., followed by fellowship training in adult reconstruction at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz.Dr. Rapuri's areas of special focus include traditional and less-invasive surgical approaches to hip replacement, with the majority of his primary hip replacement procedures taking place through the table-less Direct Anterior Approach. He also focuses on custom and uni-knee replacements, hip and knee revision surgery, and treatments for hip and knee trauma and joint infections.Prior to joining Orthopedic Medicine Specialists, Dr. Rapuri worked as an adult reconstructive orthopedic surgeon with Healthspan Medical Group and Ahuja Medical Center in Ohio. He has also consulted in the area of surgeon education.WATCH NOW:</h5>Patient Testimonial: Jessie Hunt - Orthopedic Medicine Specialists</a>". Dr. Rapuri is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Knock Knees. His top areas of expertise are Osteoarthritis, Bowlegs, Knock Knees, Hip Replacement, and Synovectomy.

 
 
 
 
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Elite in Knock Knees
Elite in Knock Knees
New Delhi, DL, IN 

Jatin Prakash practices in New Delhi, India. Mr. Prakash is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Knock Knees. His top areas of expertise are Knock Knees, Bowlegs, Cirrhosis, Osteotomy, and Knee Replacement.

What is the outlook (prognosis) for Knock Knees?

Children normally outgrow knock knees without treatment, unless it is caused by a disease.

If surgery is needed, the results are most often good.

What are the possible complications of Knock Knees?

Complications may include:

  • Difficulty walking (very rare)
  • Self-esteem changes related to cosmetic appearance of knock knees
  • If left untreated, knock knees can lead to early arthritis of the knee
When should I contact a medical professional for Knock Knees?

Contact your provider if you think your child has knock knees.

How do I prevent Knock Knees?

There is no known prevention for normal knock knees.

What are the latest Knock Knees Clinical Trials?
Is There an Association Between Gastrocnemius Tightness and Foot- and Legpain in Children?

Summary: Foot and leg pain among otherwise healthy children is a common reason for referral to our pediatric orthopaedics outpatient clinic. The pain is often intermittent and transient, but for some the pain is more dominating and has an impact on the child and families. Children grown and have normal anatomical variations such as in-toeing, out-toeing, hypermobility, flatfeet, knock knees etc. Assessing ...

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Comparison of Functional Training and Dynamic Play Exercise on Gross Motor Skills, Physical Fitness, and Balance in Healthy Children

Summary: This study aims to explore and compare two distinct approaches to physical activity: functional training and dynamic play exercises, focusing on their effects on children's gross motor skills, physical fitness and balance. A randomized clinical trial will be conducted. The study will be conducted at Primary school of Lahore in a total duration of 10 months. Sample size will be 38. There will be tw...

Who are the sources who wrote this article ?

Published Date: October 20, 2024
Published By: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

What are the references for this article ?

McClincy MP, Olgun ZD, Dede O. Orthopedics. In: Zitelli BJ, McIntire SC, Nowalk AJ, Garrison J, eds. Zitelli and Davis' Atlas of Pediatric Physical Diagnosis. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 22.

Pomeranz AJ, Sabnis S, Busey SL, Kliegman RM. Bowlegs and knock-knees. In: Pomeranz AJ, Sabnis S, Busey SL, Kliegman RM, eds. Pediatric Decision-Making Strategies. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 49.

Williams BA, Winell JJ, Wells L. Torsional and angular deformities of the limb. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 716.

Wimberly RL. Disorders of the leg. In: Herring JA, ed. Tachdjian's Pediatric Orthopaedics. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 18.