Walking Worries
Every mother sees her child as the most perfect creation, so is does
cause trepidation when her 'delight' appears to be destined to
trudge through life with bandy or bow legs. Keep your worry at bay
though, as these are normal to fledglings and are usually outgrown.
Bow legs:All babies have bow legs, and this is most
apparent when the child is lying on his back, where his knees
naturally branch-out sideways, with the soles of the feet facing
each other, this being mostly evident in the first two years of his
life, or longer in overweight babies. In the case of the bow legs
still being present in a baby older than three years of age, an
orthopedic surgeon can be consulted.
Many people still believe that early 'standing' games and playing in
a baby-walker contribute to bow leggedness, but there is absolutely
no evidence to prove this.
Knock-knees:
With the onset of walking, your baby's bow legs may take on a
knock-knee appearance, which is also a part of normal development.
Occasionally, obesity is to blame, as excessive weight can increase
the chances of being knock-kneed.
What you can do:
If your child reaches an age in which the problem begins to cause
you concern, consult your doctor for the appropriate treatment. This
would probably involve the wearing of splints, (worn at night) in
the hope of correcting the problem. If however the splints offer no
remedy, surgery may have to be considered. The procedure would
involve division and re-setting of the bones, with the legs healing
fully in about six weeks.
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