Bowy legs are also commonly known as O-shaped legs, scientific name: genu varum
Calcium deficiency and genetics are the two foundations for the formation of O-shaped legs, but the more direct reason is that walking posture, standing, sitting and some exercises.
Walking with splayed legs, standing in a resting position, wearing high heels for a long time, sitting cross-legged, kneeling, squatting, etc., will exert outward force on the knee joint, and this force will pull the knee The lateral collateral ligament of the joint, if this happens for a long time, will lead to the laxity of the lateral collateral ligament of the knee joint.
The medial and lateral collateral ligaments of the knee joint are structures that stabilize the medial and lateral angles of the knee joint. When the lateral collateral ligament is loose, the greater force of the medial collateral ligament will pull the tibia of the calf to rotate medially, causing knee varum.
It can be seen that it is a misunderstanding to think that knee varum is caused by bone bending.
Treatment methods
Correction methods for O-shaped legs include: surgery, orthodontic equipment, splints, leggings, exercises, corrective insoles, etc.
Surgery is suitable for patients with bone deformities. Through surgical osteotomy + internal fixation and correction, the normal limb alignment and appearance can be restored immediately.
For severe knee varum deformity, the first-stage new osteotomy + internal fixation and correction may cause tension and traction on nerves and blood vessels, which may easily lead to related complications. Therefore, external fixator-assisted osteotomy and correction can be used to slowly correct the deformity and avoid neurological and vascular complications, and the surgery is also minimally invasive.
The principle of non-surgical correction methods is basically the same, which is to restore the stable structure of the medial and lateral knee joints by relaxing the medial collateral ligament of the knee joint. This will cause the tibia to evert and achieve the correction goal. The advantages of non-surgical correction methods are low cost and low risks, but the disadvantage is that active treatment is slow to achieve results and requires long-term persistence. Without perseverance, the purpose of correction cannot be achieved. [1-2]?
Knee varum correction exercises
1. Eight-step correction method. Step backwards, making sure your heels touch the ground first and your path is straight. Take eight steps at a time.
2. How to exercise the inner leg muscles: Place your feet shoulder-width apart, buckle your feet slightly inward, and buckle your knees inward to squat and stand up. One group of 20 times, do 2 to 4 groups every day. There is no need to squat down completely.
3. Correct the direction of the femur. Lie on your back, bend your feet, make your calves and thighs form a 45-degree angle, and raise your buttocks so that your upper body and thighs are in the same plane.
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