False bow legs: what to know

True bow legs, also called genu varum, involve alignment of the lower limbs. A false appearance may change when the feet, knees or hips are repositioned. In children, leg alignment also changes during growth, so age and development matter. A clinician checks the way the knees track, how the feet contact the floor, leg length, walking pattern and whether the appearance is equal on both sides. A photograph alone cannot show whether the bones are aligned normally.

Arrange an assessment if the shape is new, worsening, painful or affecting walking. Note whether the knees meet when the ankles are together and whether the appearance changes during movement. For a child, paediatric physiotherapy may address movement habits, strength and foot control when appropriate. Exercises cannot reshape a normally aligned bone, so avoid braces or corrective routines without professional advice. Imaging may be considered when examination suggests a structural problem.

Seek prompt care for sudden leg deformity, inability to bear weight, marked swelling, fever with a painful joint or pain after an injury. Arrange medical review for one-sided bowing, limping, night pain or a noticeable change in a growing child. These features need assessment rather than reassurance based on appearance alone.

Is the alignment structural or mainly positional? Does my child’s age change the interpretation? Would physiotherapy help movement control? Do we need imaging or follow-up during growth?