Are bow legs a disease?

The medical term genu varum describes the knees remaining apart when the ankles are close. It does not by itself explain why that shape is present or whether treatment is necessary.

A similar curve in both legs can occur during early childhood development and may change as the child grows. Features such as increasing deformity, marked asymmetry, pain, poor growth or difficulty walking make a bone or growth disorder more concerning and call for clinical evaluation.

In adults, bowing may be the continuation of childhood alignment, the result of a previous fracture, or a change associated with uneven wear in the knee. The underlying issue, rather than the label alone, determines its effect on joint loading and mobility.

Record when the shape was first noticed and whether it is stable. Mention limping, pain, previous injury, growth concerns, medical conditions and medicines. A clinician will compare the sides, examine the hips through the feet, and watch standing and walking.

Further testing is selective. Standing images can show the weight-bearing axis and the site of a structural curve. Other tests may be requested if the examination suggests a problem with bone development or metabolism.

Make an appointment if bowing is becoming more obvious, is clearly different between the legs, causes pain or a limp, or limits usual activity. Developmental concerns or delayed physical progress in a child also merit timely review.

Get urgent help for a sudden change after trauma, inability to use the limb, major swelling, severe pain, new weakness or numbness, or a foot that looks pale and feels cool.

Ask whether the alignment is expected for the person's stage of growth, what examination findings suggest a specific cause, and whether monitoring or testing is advised. If treatment is recommended, clarify whether it targets symptoms, growth, joint loading or the bone deformity itself.