Knock Knee Syndrome: Causes, Symptoms, and Knee Knock Treatment
Have you ever noticed your knees touching each other while your ankles stay far apart? This condition is known as knock knees disease (medically called Genu Valgum). While it is common in young children as they grow, if the gap remains wide as they get older, it can lead to long-term knock knees problems like joint pain and difficulty walking.
If you are looking for a permanent knock knees solution, consulting an expert is vital. Dr. Ashwini Gaurav, the Best Orthopedic Doctor in Patna and Director and Head of Orthopaedic & Joint Replacement Surgery at Jeevandan Health OPD, specializes in correcting bone deformities with advanced care.
What is Knock-Knee Syndrome?
Knock Knee Syndrome (Genu Valgum) is a condition where the knees tilt inward and touch each other when standing, while the ankles remain apart. Common causes of knock knees include vitamin deficiencies (like Rickets), bone infections, or genetic factors. Treatment ranges from knock knee correction exercise and braces for mild cases to knock knee surgery for severe structural issues in adults.
Causes and Reasons: Why Do Knees Knock?
Understanding the reason for knock knees is the first step toward treatment. It isn’t just about “walking wrong”; it often relates to how bones develop.
- Nutritional Deficiencies: In India, a lack of Vitamin D and Calcium (Rickets) is a major reason for knock knees.
- Injury or Infection: Damage to the growth plates around the knee during childhood.
- Obesity: Excess weight puts pressure on the knee joints, causing them to tilt inward.
- Genetic Conditions: Some children are born with a predisposition to knee knock disease.
- Knock knee adults: In grown-ups, it can be caused by untreated childhood issues or severe osteoarthritis.
Symptoms of Knock Knee Syndrome:
How do you identify problems with knock knees? Look for these signs:
- A visible gap between ankles when knees are touching
- An unusual “clumsy” walking style or a limp.
- Pain in the knees, hips, or ankles due to uneven weight distribution.
- Difficulty running or participating in sports.
- Outwardly rotated feet.
Diagnosis of Knock Knees by Dr. Ashwini Gaurav:
Before starting any knock knee treatment exercise, a professional diagnosis is necessary. Dr. Ashwini Gaurav uses a detailed approach:
- Physical Examination: Measuring the distance between the ankles and observing the gait (walking style).
- Knock Knees Test: Checking for ligament stability and joint range of motion.
- Knock Knee X-ray: A full-length knock knees x ray (standing) is the gold standard. It helps the doctor see the exact angle of the femur and tibia.
- Knock Knees Photos: Comparing a patient’s knock knees pics over time to monitor the progression of the deformity.
Knee Knock Treatment Options:
Depending on the age of the patient and the severity shown in the knock knee pic, Dr. Gaurav suggests the following:
Non-Surgical Treatments:
- Observation: Many kids outgrow it naturally by age 7 or 8.
- Knock Knees Belt & Braces: A knock knees corrector or specialized night braces can help realign the legs in growing children.
- Shoes for Knock Knees: Using orthotic inserts or specific knock knees shoes can help redistribute weight and reduce pain.
- Knock Knee Yoga: Practicing specific poses like Vrikshasana (Tree Pose) can improve balance.
Exercises for knock-kneed:
The best exercise for knock knees focuses on strengthening the outer hip muscles and stretching the inner thighs.
- Side-Lying Leg Lifts: A great corrective exercise for knock knees.
- Wall Squats: Helps in strengthening the muscles around the knee.
- Knock Knee Correction Exercise: Lunges and step-ups are often recommended as a knock knee treatment exercise.
Surgical Options for Severe Knock Knees:
For knock knee adults or teenagers whose growth plates have closed, surgery is often the only permanent knock knees solution.
- Guided Growth (Hemi-epiphysiodesis): A small metal plate is placed on one side of the growth plate to “guide” the leg to grow straight.
- Osteotomy: This is a more complex knock knee surgery where the bone is cut and reshaped to fix the alignment. Dr. Ashwini Gaurav is an expert in performing these precision surgeries in Patna.
Knock Knees vs Normal Knees:
It is helpful to look at normal knee vs knock knee comparisons to understand the impact on the body.
- Normal Knees: The weight passes through the center of the knee joint.
- Knock Knees: The weight passes through the outer (lateral) part of the knee. This causes the outer cartilage to wear out faster, leading to early arthritis.
- Knock Knees and Bow Legs: While knock knees tilt inward, bow legs (Genu Varum) curve outward. Both require specialized orthopedic attention.
Why Choose Dr. Ashwini Gaurav for Knee Knock Treatment?
When you look at knock knee images or knock knees pics on the internet, it can be scary. However, with the right expert, the condition is highly treatable.
Dr. Ashwini Gaurav provides:
- Advanced Diagnostics: High-quality knock knees x ray analysis.
- Expert Correction: From corrective exercise for knock knees plans to advanced knock knee surgery.
- Proven Results: 15+ years of helping patients stand tall and walk confidently.
Conclusion:
Knock knee syndrome is more than just a cosmetic issue; it affects your long-term joint health. Whether you are seeking a knock knee yoga routine for mild cases or exploring knock knee surgery for structural correction, early intervention is key to avoiding future pain.
Don’t let knock knees problems stop you from living an active life. Consult Dr. Ashwini Gaurav, the Best Orthopedic Doctor in Patna, for a personalized treatment plan. Contact OrthoPatna today to schedule your consultation with Dr. Ashwini Gaurav and take the first step toward straighter, healthier legs.
FAQs About Knee Knock:
It is a condition, medically called Genu Valgum, where the knees tilt inward and touch each other while the ankles remain apart. If you are wondering what is knock kneed, it simply refers to this “X-shaped” leg alignment.
Knock knee means that the weight of your body is not distributed evenly across the knee joint. This can lead to knee pain, a clumsy walking style, and a higher risk of joint injuries or early arthritis.
Knock knee syndrome caused by nutritional deficiencies like Vitamin D or Calcium (Rickets), bone infections, or injuries to the growth plate. Interestingly, when people ask knock knee syndrome is caused by which pollution, it often refers to Fluoride pollution in water, which can weaken bones and lead to deformities.
To learn how to check knock knees, stand straight with your kneecaps facing forward. If your knees touch but there is a gap of more than 3 inches between your ankles, you likely have the condition.
Yes, is knock knees curable is a common question, and the answer is positive. The treatment depends on the person’s age and the severity of the gap, ranging from braces to surgery.
To know how to treat knock knees in kids, doctors usually suggest observation, Vitamin D supplements, or special knock knee shoes. Most children outgrow the condition naturally by age 7 or 8.
If you are looking for how to fix knock knees after growth has stopped, Dr. Ashwini Gaurav may recommend a specialized surgery called an osteotomy to realign the bones and prevent future joint damage.
Many ask, can knock knees be corrected in adults by exercise? While exercises cannot change the actual bone structure once you are an adult, they are excellent for strengthening muscles and reducing pain. For actual bone realignment in adults, surgery is usually required.
For mild cases, people ask how to correct knock knees without surgery. This involves knock knee correction exercises, weight loss to reduce pressure on joints, and using orthopedic shoe inserts.
The best way how to cure knock knees permanently is to address the root cause. If it is a vitamin deficiency, supplements help. If it is a structural bone issue, Dr. Ashwini Gaurav provides advanced surgical solutions at the best orthopedic clinic in Patna.