Question 1

Correcting bow legs: how do you tell when it works and when it doesn't?

Accepted Answer

Bow legs fall into two groups: those that can be corrected and those that can't. Legs that look bowed because of the pelvis and muscles can be corrected; legs where the bone itself is bent cannot.

Question 2

If my legs are different lengths, is posture correction impossible?

Accepted Answer

The length of the bones themselves is hard to change, but the shape of the legs can change. If we change the tilted posture and gait your body has built up because of the length difference, the visible shape changes too.

Question 3

How do knock knees (genu valgum) and bow legs differ in symptoms?

Accepted Answer

The knees touch but the ankles are apart. It's the opposite of bow legs, and so is the reason people come in — usually not because of how it looks, but because it hurts.

Question 4

Why are bow leg exercises chosen differently for each person?

Accepted Answer

There is no bow leg exercise that suits everyone. Even with the same bow legs, what is stiff and what is weak differs, so we check first and then choose the exercises.

Question 5

Bow legs in children: until what age is it fine to just watch?

Accepted Answer

There really is a period when it gets better on its own. But if that period has passed and the gap looks wider every year, waiting and checking are two different things.

Question 6

When the difference in leg length is large, what is the goal of treatment?

Accepted Answer

Making the lengths match is not possible. So the goal is not the shape of the legs, but easing the burden the body has carried to make up for that difference.

Bow legs · Knock knees