What is knock knees?
The knock knee (genu valgum) is a disorder in which the knee rolls inward with the ankle separated. This situation is somewhat familiar in girls, but it can also occur in boys. Knee knocks are usually part of the child’s expected maturation and growth. Most toddlers knock on their knees for some time, but some children are more noticeable. In rare cases, knee knock may be a symptom of underlying bone damage. It is especially true if the condition first appears when the child is six years of age or older.
What are the causes of pathological knock knees?
In some neurological disorders such as cerebral palsy or spina bifida, pathological knock-knee complaints can occur as a result of changes in bone muscle pull.
Therefore, pathological knock knee can be one of the early signs of an underlying condition. Bone rickets, a bone disease caused by inadequate mineralization, can emerge in childhood due to the large knee angle. If the abnormal knee appears to be related to short stature and other bone and joint misalignment, the cause may be skeletal dysplasia or a metabolic bone disorder.
Obesity in adolescence is also associated with more pronounced deformity of the knee joint and is more common in children with flat feet and children with bloated mobility (excessive flexibility).
Does knock knees need treatment?
In general, parental concerns about how a youngster will look when standing or walking call for an initial examination by a healthcare professional. Kids with physiological disorders of the knee joint do not need treatment or continuous monitoring as they grow over time.
Conservative treatments, such as knock knees exercises and weight loss schedules to decrease obesity in children and enhance knee mobility, and foot orthosis and knee braces for painful osteoarthritis associated with a dislocated knee in adults, may be helpful. However, these interventions are currently few, and more scientific proof is needed to support their use.
Children with extreme or worsening knee deformities may need orthopaedic surgery to reposition the knee, especially if they have persistent pain or disability, regardless of the underlying reason. There are multiple surgeries for pathological dislocation of the knee. Hemiepiphysiodesis is a type of “guided growth” surgery that involves placing braces or plates on the inside of the knee to slow development while the outside of the knee persists to grow. It will correct the angle of the knee to a more upright position.
Some exercises for knock knee
- Butterfly flutters
It is a yoga posture that stretches the kneecap and other adjacent muscles to correct the position. The more you shake and lower your knees to the ground, the more correctly your knees will straighten over time.
- Side lunges
They are an excellent way to work out your legs, especially the inner thighs. It also allows you to align your knees to improve your posture and posture.
Start by standing straight with your feet hip-width apart. Take a wide step to the left. Bend your left knee and push your butt back. Return to the starting position by pushing with your left foot.
- Sumo squats
If you look closely, you can see that the knees get pushed outward when performing the sumo squat. This exercise is believed to be one of the best exercises for straightening the knee joint as it helps the kneecap and other muscles into their proper position.
Knock knee can be very painful if not corrected. Severe joint pain, poor posture, difficulty walking, and bone deformities are just some of the problems you may face if your bent knee is not corrected. Therefore, exercising in the above-mentioned poses can be beneficial.