Have you ever noticed that your child’s knees bend inward and touch or “knock” against one another, even when they are standing with their ankles apart? This condition is called “Knock-knees, which usually corrects itself as the child grows. Knock knees are a part of the growth and development of a child, especially children under the age of 6 or 7. This is common in girls, but can also develop in boys as well. It is present to some degree for some time, although it can be more visible in some children.

WHAT CAUSES KNOCKED KNEES?
When we talk about kids or adolescents, knock knees can be caused by a deficiency of D3 and calcium or improper postures. For example, some kids form a “W” while sitting down, which can weaken their knees if not corrected on time.

Whereas in adults, a sedentary lifestyle plays a part in the development of knock knees. After the pandemic, our physical activities have become almost non-existent and due to this our knees, hips, and other joints have become weak, increasing the chance of developing knock knees for adults.

Apart from these reasons knock knees can also be a result of some underlying or pre-existing conditions in both kids and adults. Some of these conditions can be:

  • Rickets – problems with bone development resulting from a lack of vitamin D and calcium
  • Excessive pressure on the knees – for example, as a result of obesity or loose knee ligaments (the bands of tissue around joints that connect bones)
  • An injury or infection affecting the knees or leg bones
  • Genetic conditions affecting the development of the bones or joints

HOW DOES IT AFFECT YOUR LIFE?

Knock knees can result in knee pain, a limp, or having difficulty walking. Your knees may be put under additional pressure when the condition doesn’t get better on its own, which could increase the risk of developing arthritis.

The knees, regardless of age group, are unusually overloaded in one or both directions. This high force can cause discomfort, further bone deformation, instability in the knee, and gradual knee joint degeneration.

Knock Knees also limit people of all age groups from various physical activities like having a limp while walking, reduced range of motion in hips, and difficulty walking or running.

Especially for athletes, knock knees can also become a limitation. ACL injuries may result from this disease because of the strain it places on the knees.

EXERCISES FOR KNOCK KNEES

Although, it is recommended to consult a doctor if the condition goes on for a long time. Some exercises can be done at home to prevent and manage knock knees.

1. Sumo Squat

2. Butterfly Stretches

3. Side lunges

HOW CAN EEZ ALIGN HELP WITH KNOCK-KNEES?

Knock-knees in itself is not an alarming condition, considering it corrects itself in time. But when it persists after the age of 6-7 years in kids or has started to limit someone from their day-to-day activities, it is advised to consult a physiotherapist.

One of the best ways to correct this condition is via a thorough full-body rehabilitation program. EEZ ALIGN REHABILITATION PROGRAM provides leg, hip, and thigh muscle strengthening exercises based on the condition and its underlying cause. Our programs include treatments like chiropractic and structural integration where we emphasize assessing the root cause of the condition and then further developing a plan that will benefit the patient the most.

EEZ ALIGN’S treatment programs strengthen can help you understand what type of training program will be best for you. We use our “Integrated Treatment Model” to bring stability using a variety of physiotherapy and structural integration techniques. Our goal is to help develop mobility, proper positioning of the joints, and strength.

Dr. Isha Sehdev at EEZ Align will be able to give a full assessment of you and come out with individualized advice/ treatment plan that is tailored to your particular needs.