“Bowlegs: Causes, Effects, and Treatment Options”
Bowlegs, a condition where the lower limbs curve outward when straightened, can cause the inner ankles to touch. This often results in knock-knees, placing excessive weight on the inner surfaces of the knee joints and leading to cartilage wear and tear. Left untreated, bowlegs can cause joint pain and mobility issues later in life.
How to Correct Bowlegs
Adjust Your Walking Posture
When walking, focus on exerting outward force with your legs to prevent your knees from knocking together. Maintain a straight body posture, with a straight back and stomach, looking ahead. Keep your arms relaxed and allow them to swing naturally by your sides, with your toes pointing slightly outward or straight ahead. Stride evenly.
Massage Your Legs After Bathing
Leg massages after prolonged sitting or standing not only improve blood circulation but also help align the legs. Daily bathing improves blood flow and metabolism throughout the body, and massaging your legs during your bath can expedite this process.
Exercises for Bowlegs
– While seated, use your calves to clamp a book between your legs and hold for a set time.
– Stand with your feet together, hands on your knees, and perform squats with your knees pointing forward. Do this 20-30 times, maintaining a straight body.
– Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, hands relaxed by your sides. Stand on your right leg, bringing your left foot forward at a 15-degree angle, and rotate your left foot in circles. Repeat on the other side, bringing your right foot forward and rotating it in circles. Do this four times on each side.
– Bend over, holding your knees, and rotate your knees in circular motions to the left and right, similar to the ‘knee circles’ warm-up exercise commonly performed before working out.
Regular health check-ups are essential, as doctors will assess the effectiveness of conservative treatments and determine the next steps. Other methods to correct bowlegs include surgery, braces, and physical therapy. Surgery is suitable for patients with bone deformities, as it involves cutting, fixing, and reshaping the bone to restore normal leg alignment and appearance.