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A standing child whose knees touch but ankles do not, is usually said to have knock-knees. During childhood, knock-knees are a part of normal growth and development. They usually become apparent when a child is 2 to 3 years old and may increase in severity until about age 4. If this condition does not appear until a child is 6 years of age or older, however, an underlying bone disease may be present.
During childhood, knock-knees usually develop as an effort to maintain balance, particularly when the child begins to walk or if the child's foot rolls inward or tuns outward. When a child has knock-knees, both knees usually lean inward to an equal degree. One knee, however, may "knock" less than the other, or may even remain straight.
Overweight children are most likely to develop knock-knees, because their developing bones and joints have trouble supporting their weight and they tend to lean inward. Knock-knees usually correct themselves by the time a child is five years old. Occasionally, however, they persist into adolescence.
Severe knock-knees usually wind up restricting a child's physical activities. The child cannot run easily and may not want to participate in sports or other physical activities. If knock-knees persist into adolescence, problems of appearance as well as physical activity may arise.
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Knock-Knees
