Fat and knock knees

Knock knees, or genu valgum, describe an inward leg alignment in which the knees come closer together while the ankles remain farther apart. Alignment may reflect normal growth in a child, bone shape, joint disease, previous injury or body load. Extra load can increase stress around the knees, yet body size alone does not explain every case. A clinician may observe walking, compare both legs, check hip and foot movement, and consider imaging when alignment is marked, painful or changing.

Choose low-impact activity that you can repeat comfortably, such as walking on level ground, cycling or water exercise. Strengthening the hips, thighs and trunk may improve control even when it does not alter bone alignment. Supportive footwear and a physiotherapy assessment can help identify movements that overload the knees. For a growing child, Paediatric Physiotherapy can guide developmentally suitable activity and monitoring. When a fixed alignment causes significant symptoms or uneven loading, an orthopaedic surgeon may discuss Osteotomy, an operation that realigns a bone.

Arrange an assessment for persistent knee pain, repeated falls, limping, one-sided change, swelling, restricted movement or difficulty with stairs. A child should be reviewed if the alignment is pronounced, painful, asymmetric or worsening. Seek urgent care after a major injury if the leg cannot bear weight, looks deformed, or becomes numb or cold.

Ask whether the alignment is expected for age, whether both legs are affected, what is causing symptoms, which exercises are appropriate, how progress will be monitored, and when specialist surgery would be considered.