Genu valgum is the medical term for knock knees, which is the appearance of your knees turning inward while your ankles stay separated.
This condition tends to develop in young children as they’re growing up. However, by the time the child reaches the age of 6 he or she grows out of it.
Even though this is a normal bone development in some children, it can be caused by an underlying condition if you have knocked knees after the age of 6 or older.
Common Causes of Genu Valgum
Some of the most common underlying causes of genu valgum include:
- Some form of genetic disorder like skeletal dysplasias.
- Injury to the knee or shinbone can cause the inward turn in both your knees.
- Obesity isn’t a direct cause of genu valgum but it can definitely contribute to your knock knee appearance. Losing the extra weight can make a significant improvement when it comes to treating genu valgum.
- Arthritis is another common cause of genu valgum because it weakens the joints in your knees which causes them to turn inward.
If you want to fix genu valgum and stop your knees from facing inwards you have to take care of the underlying condition, according to My Knock Knee Fix.
Symptoms of Genu Valgum
The most common genu valgum symptom is chronic pain, which is normally felt in the knee area.
Other symptoms you should be aware of include:
- Unusual limp when you try to walk.
- Pain in your feet and ankles.
- Your knee joints feel stiff whenever you try to walk.
- You have problems maintaining proper balance when you stand or walk.
- The most obvious symptom is your knees touching while your ankles are spread apart.
If you notice one or more of these symptoms it’s a good idea to consult with a doctor that deals with this type of condition, which would be an orthopedist.
The orthopedic specialist will perform several tests to diagnose you for genu valgum.
The most common way the doctor will diagnose you is by taking an X-ray and examing the bones from your hips to ankles.
If the orthopedist determines that genu valgum is present he or she will recommend the best treatment for knock knees.
Best Treatment for Genu Valgum
When it comes to genu valgum the best treatment is one that helps guide the curved bones back into a straight line.
For knock knees in adults the most recommended treatment by orthopedists is osteotomy.
Osteotomy is a surgical procedure which involves cutting a piece of the affected bone and then adjusting the leg until a straightened appearance is achieved.
Once the adjustment in the leg has been made the surgeon will insert a plate with screws to hold the correction in place.
These plates and screws will remain inside your leg and hold everything in place for at least 8 weeks untile the knock knee correction is permanent.
Genu Valgum Exercises
Other than surgery there are also exercises you can do regularly to help fix your knock knee deformity.
Even if you undergo surgery the doctor may recommend you perform certain exercises and stretches that help guide your bones into the correct position.
Some of the best exercises for genu valgum include:
Lunges
Lunges are a great exercise for genu valgum because they target the main muslces in your legs responsible for your knees turning inwards.
By strengthening these muscles by performing lunges it should make a significant improvement in the appearance of your legs.
To do lunges follow the steps below:
- The first step is to stand up straight while keeping your feet seperated.
- Now take one big step forward with your left leg until it forms a 90 degree angle. Your right leg should be in a straight line behind you. Keep your arms on your hips as you take this step forward into the lunge position.
- Once your left leg has bent down into a 90 degree angle and you can’t sink down to the ground any more go ahead and return slowly to the starting postion.
This is one rep. Do about 10 of these with your left leg extended out in front of you in a 90 degree angle and then switch to your right leg and repeat the steps above.
Banded Squats
When you do squats they help straighten your knock knees by strengthening your hamstrings and quads.
If these muscles are too weak or tight they can definitely cause a lot of inward curvature in your knees.
To do banded squats follow the directions below:
- First, stand up straight with your back upright and your feet separated.
- Now, place an exercise band around your thighs and then begin dropping low into a squat.
- As you bend over keep your thighs apart as much as you can.
- Once you start to feel the burn in your hips and thigh area go ahead and hold this squatting position for about 10 seconds.
- Finally, return to the standing position you started in and then repeat this exercise 10 to 15 times.
For the best results you should do this genu valgum exercise about twice each day.
Conclusion
Genu valgum is definitely a condition with many treatment options.
If you’re not sure which route to take you should definiltey reach out to an experienced orthopedist that knows how to diagnose and treat this condition.
Surgical options are often recommened for more severe cases of genu valgum, but doing exercises like lunnges regularly can definitely help make small improvements in this deformity.
At the very least, these exercises for genu valgum will help reduce some of the common symptoms like chronic pain.
