Knock Knees Overview
Learn About Knock Knees
Knock knees are a condition in which the knees touch, but the ankles do not touch. The legs turn inward.
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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)
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.
Cayuga Medical Associates PC
Deidre Blake is an Orthopedics provider in Ithaca, New York. Dr. Blake and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Knock Knees. Her top areas of expertise are Osteoarthritis, Knock Knees, Tendinitis, Hip Replacement, and Knee Replacement.
Bruce Greene is an Orthopedics provider in Ithaca, New York. Dr. Greene and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Knock Knees. His top areas of expertise are Osteoarthritis, Tendinitis, Knock Knees, and Tennis Elbow.
Our Lady Of Lourdes Memorial Hospital Inc
Darlene Denzien is a Family Medicine provider in Binghamton, New York. Dr. Denzien and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Knock Knees. Her top areas of expertise are Frontonasal Dysplasia Klippel Feil Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, and Invertebral Disc Disease.
Children normally outgrow knock knees without treatment, unless it is caused by a disease.
If surgery is needed, the results are most often good.
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
Contact your provider if you think your child has knock knees.
There is no known prevention for normal knock knees.
Summary: pronation distortion syndrome is a common postural distortion of the lower extremity, involving the anterior part of the leg. It may cause pain in the leg and disturbances in the tarsal part, in addition to distal and proximal parts. In this deformity, the head of the talus and navicular bones are rotated inward and downward, and the body's center of gravity shifts inward, resulting in flat feet. ...
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 ...
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.
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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.