In adults, bowing of the legs can be the result of osteoarthritis or wear-and-tear arthritis of the knees. 4 This condition can wear away the cartilage and surrounding bone of the knee joint. If the wear is more on the inner side of the knee joint, a bow-legged deformity may develop.
The many causes of bowleg syndrome range from illnesses such as Blount's disease to improperly healed fractures, vitamin deficiencies and lead poisoning. Illnesses and conditions that cause bowleggedness include: abnormal bone development (bone dysplasia) Blount's disease (more information below)
Bowleg syndrome causes a person's legs to appear bowed, bending outward even when the ankles are together.
Mild bowing in an infant or toddler under age 3 is typically normal and will get better over time. However, bowed legs that are severe, worsening or persisting beyond age 3 should be referred to a specialist. A timely referral is important.
Bowlegs in adults is an independent risk factor for knee joint degeneration and pain. Multiple studies have shown that correction of bowlegs prior to the onset of end stage arthritis can delay or prevent the need for total knee replacement.
Bowlegs, also sometimes called “bow legs” or “bowed legs,” is a common condition where the knees don't come together when the feet are touching. The medical term for bowlegs is genu varum. This article focuses on bowlegs in adults, including teenagers who have reached skeletal maturity (completed growth).
If a child continues to have bow legs past the age of three, it may be the result of an underlying health condition such as rickets or Blount's disease. If an adolescent has bow legs, it is often the result of carrying excess weight or having obesity.
Blount disease is a growth disorder of the shin bone (tibia) in which the lower leg turns inward, making it look like a bowleg. The skeleton is made up of 206 bones in the adult and contributes to the form and shape of the body.
Untreated vitamin D deficiency rickets results in the ends of the long bones becoming enlarged and the legs becoming bowed or knock-kneed. Muscles can become weak and the chest may become deformed due to the pull of the diaphragm on the ribs that have been weakened by rickets (Harrison's groove).
Blount's disease is a disorder of the growth plates in the bones around the knee. It causes a child to have a bowlegged appearance. There are two types of Blount's disease based on the child's age: infantile and adolescent.
Vitamin B12deficiency symptoms may include: strange sensations, numbness, or tingling in the hands, legs, or feet. difficulty walking (staggering, balance problems)
Some "fixed" bow legs cannot change the bone position, the only solution is surgery. However, if the cause is hip strain, you can do exercises for people with bow legs to work the muscles that push the knee back into its original position, improve the rotation of the leg bones, thereby gradually adjusting it.
Genua vara or bow legs is a deviation of the knees from a vertical axis which goes through the hip joint, knee joint and ankle joint on the anterior side. This alignment is caused by tight hip and weak abductors.
Increased abdominal weight puts pressure on the groin lymph nodes, impeding lymphatic flow. As lymphatic flow is impeded, the legs begin to swell. The accumulation of lymphatic fluid in the soft tissues of the legs causes an inflammatory reaction, causing hard, thick, dry, and red skin which is warm to the touch.
However, if the legs are not straight by age three, that's when a child may be diagnosed as bowlegged. Bowleg deformity is more than an issue of appearance. It can also cause knee and hip pain; limited mobility, particularly in the hips; difficulty walking or running; or instability in the knees.
In the long term, bow legs can lead to degenerative spinal conditions due to a lack of proper support. If your legs curve outward, it might be a good idea to see a chiropractor. Getting a proper diagnosis and learning about treatment options for bow legs is a good first step you chiropractor can help with.
Symptoms of B-12 deficiency can be subtle at first. Early symptoms may include a persistent tingling or prickly feeling in your feet or hands, weakness, numbness, imbalance, and mental problems such as confusion, depression, irritability and forgetfulness. Rarely, vitamin B-12 deficiency is a cause of dementia.
Stage 1 is decreased levels of vitamin B12 in the blood. Stage 2 is low concentration of vitamin B12 in the cell and metabolic abnormalities. Stage 3 is increased levels of homocysteine and MMA and decreased DNA synthesis resulting in neuropsychiatric symptoms. Stage 4 is macrocytic anemia.
Blount's disease is a condition that affects how the shin bone (tibia) grows in toddlers and adolescents. Blount's disease causes a bow or bend in the leg below the knee. The condition is most common among early walkers or children who gain weight quickly. Treatment corrects the bowed leg with a brace or surgery.
Blount disease is very different from the bowlegs that babies and toddlers have. Their legs are naturally bowed and usually straighten out when they start walking. But with Blount disease — whether it starts in early childhood or the teen years — the curve gets worse if it's not treated.