Last Modified on Jun 19, 2014
Bow legs are a condition that is fairly typical among young children; however, the leg deformity can also extend into later years in life if left untreated. In most cases, though, the condition can be treated effectively with natural home practices. Stretching, exercising, and taking nutritional supplements is often enough to completely eradicated bowed legs.
What Causes Bowed Legs?
MedlinePlus defines bow legs as a condition in which your knees stay wider apart when you are standing with your feet together. It is considered normal in children who are still developing and are under the age of 18 months; however, the condition sometimes persists due to specific medical conditions or concerns.
Some of the most common causes of pervasive bow leggedness include abnormal development, Blount’s disease, fractures in the bones that healed improperly, lead or fluoride poisoning, and vitamin D deficiency. Symptoms of the condition are relatively common to notice and include the knees not touching when standing with your feet together, the same bowing on each leg, and bowed legs that continue beyond age 3.
Can I Treat Bow Legs At Home?
It is important to seek a doctor’s supervision when treating bowed legs because the condition could be a sign of a more progressive disorder. However, in most cases, you can effectively treat the condition at home. Exercising and stretching are two of the most effective ways to treat bow legs, but nutritional supplements, like vitamin D, are also often helpful.
According to LiveStrong staff, exercise that builds the muscles in your legs is one of the most effective ways to treat bow legs. Strengthening the muscles that surround your upper thighs and knees are the most important. You can try different exercise techniques like Pilates.
Stretching is another important way to improve the posture of your legs as well as the rest of your body. Exercises like yoga help lengthen the muscles in your body and strength the core or center of those muscles. Stretching also helps to realign your skeletal and muscular systems to better support your body throughout.
3. Vitamin D
According to Boston Children’s Hospital, bowed legs can also be caused by vitamin D deficiency. As such, it is important to incorporate this supplement into a treatment plan to remedy bowed legs. WebMD suggests a daily dose of 400 to 1,000 IU daily for children up to 1 year and 1,500 to 2,000 IU for adults.
Give one of these treatment options a try or keep reading for more natural remedies from our readers.
Bowlegs - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001585.htm
Bowlegs: Overview - http://www.childrenshospital.org/health-topics/conditions/bowlegs
Exercises to Straighten Bow Legs - http://www.livestrong.com/article/461075-exercises-to-straighten-bow-legs/
Hi, This is Mohan.C from Bangalore, India. I've bow legs, which needs to correct because due to this I feel embrassment in the society. In order lead a comfortable life, I need to correct my bow legs. Please tell me Is there any way to get rid from this? Thanks.
Replied by Tom
Fort Worth, Texas