Bow legs – Causes, Precautions and Treatment

Bow legged meaning – It is a postural deformity. In this deformity knees are widely apart. There remains a wide gap between knees when a bow legged person keeps his feet together. Bow legs is opposite to knock-knees. It occurs during childhood. Bow legs for babies are common. Sometimes parents get afraid about their bow legged baby. But as they grow their legs starts to come in proper shape. If there is bow legs in toddlers, then it is due to lack of nutrition.

What causes bow legs?

Ans: Major causes of bow legs are:

  1. Rickets.
  2. Deficiency of vitamin D and calcium.
  3. Improper way of walking.
  4. Obesity.
  5. Using defaulted footwear.
  6. Forcing babies to walk at early stage.

What are the precautions of bow legs?

Ans: The precautions of bow legs are:

  1. Don’t carry heavy weight in childhood.
  2. Babies should not be forced to walk at very early age.
  3. Balanced diet should be taken.
  4. Always walk properly.
  5. Use good quality shoes.

How to fix bow legs or bow legs treatment

Ans: The problem of bow legs can be treated by taking following remedies and exercises:

  1. Vitamin ‘D’ and calcium should be taken in required amount.
  2. Walk on inner edge of the feet.
  3. Walk by bending the toes inward.
  4. Perform garudasana regularly.

FAQs

Q.1: What is bow legged?

Ans: It is a postural deformity in which there is a wide gap between the knees of a person. When a bow legged person keeps his feet together his knees looks wide apart. It is opposite to knock-knees.

Q.2: How to correct bow legs in adults?

Ans: This problem can be corrected in adults by doing following:

  1. Adults should practice yoga daily specially garudasana (Eagle pose).
  2. Drink milk twice a day.
  3. Sit in sunlight and eat eggs as they are rich source of vitamin D.
  4. Don’t carry heavy weight for long time.
  5. You can also use cod liver oil.
  6. Walk on inner edge of the feet.
  7. Use good quality shoes.

Q.3: A child with bowed legs is likely deficient in vitamin?
Ans: A child with bowed legs is likely deficient in vitamin D. Deficiency of vitamin D also cause bow legs in a person.

Q.4: What causes bow legs in babies?

Ans: This problem can also develop in babies due to various reasons such as:

  1. Forcing babies to walk at very early age.
  2. Rickets.
  3. Obesity.
  4. Deficiency of vitamin D and calcium.

Tags health postural deformities