Will My Child's Bow Legs Get Better as They Grow?

What we often hear

• "My child's legs look curved, and I'm worried."
• "I've heard they straighten out on their own as kids grow. Is that true?"
• "I don't know if I should be doing something now."

Will my child's bow legs get better as they grow?

There really is a stage when they get better on their own. But if that stage has passed and the legs seem to spread further apart every year, waiting and checking are two different things.

It's a natural pattern for legs to look O-shaped in babies and then straighten out after toddlers start walking. So the saying "it'll get better as they grow" isn't always wrong. The question is how long to trust it and wait.

How do I know when it's okay to wait and when it isn't?

If the gap between the legs is getting smaller year by year, it's fine to keep watching. On the other hand, if it seems to grow wider each year or the two legs look different, it's better to have it checked once.

The student who came to our clinic was in high school. At first the parents watched, thinking "it'll get better as they grow," but as time went on it seemed to get wider, and they came in worried that surgery might be needed. The student was already well past the age when legs naturally straighten.

Is this a case that needs surgery?

This student's wasn't. A posture analysis and gait analysis showed the shinbone wasn't actually curved, and the bone shape was mostly within the normal range.

The problem was in the pelvis and hip joints. The buttock muscles supporting the pelvis had weakened, and as the pelvis twisted, the thighbones had rolled inward. When that happens, the knees can't face forward and instead face each other, and from the outside the legs look apart, like an O. This was something we could work on.

In medical terms, the thighbone rolling inward is called internal femoral rotation.

What if my child is stressed about their legs?

We listen to those feelings first. This student said they hated wearing skirts and had gotten into the habit of crossing their legs or hiding them behind a bag when taking photos with friends.

Leg shape may seem like a matter of appearance, but for a child this age it's an everyday problem. Hearing in what situations and how it bothers them makes it clear what needs to change and by how much. We set the goals together with the child, not just with the adults.

What are the limits of this judgment?

Applying adult standards directly to a growing child leads to overjudging. Age and the remaining growth period need to be considered together.

One more thing. If the bone is actually curved, if one side is much worse than the other, if there's pain or limping, or if the child is much shorter than peers, the possibility of another condition must be checked first. In these cases, that check comes before any talk of correction.

Summary for parents

1. There really is a stage when legs look O-shaped in young children and then straighten on their own.
2. But if the gap seems to grow wider each year, it's better to have it checked once.
3. We first find out whether it's curved bone or the muscles and pelvis.
4. If it's the muscles and pelvis, it's something we can work on.
5. If there's pain or limping as well, other checks come first.

We measure first, then tell you what can and can't be done. The part that can change is the part we can help with.

If you never got a clear answer about whether it can be done, come in and get measured. After measuring, we'll tell you that same day how much can be changed.

Each child has a different remaining growth period and starting condition, so results differ too.