What should you know about LeBron James bow leg?

Bow legs, also called genu varum, make the knees remain apart when the feet are together. Mild alignment can be a normal variation, especially during childhood, while a marked or increasing curve can affect how weight passes through the knees, ankles, and hips. One-sided curvature, pain, limping, stiffness, or difficulty with sport deserves a clinical examination. A photograph or celebrity comparison cannot show the cause, severity, or effect on movement.

Notice whether the shape is present on both sides and whether it changes with growth, fatigue, or activity. Arrange an orthopaedic assessment if the alignment is new, worsening, asymmetric, or linked with pain. An examination may include walking, standing alignment, joint movement, and imaging when the clinician needs to understand bone position. Physiotherapy can address strength, balance, and movement habits when these contribute to symptoms; paediatric physiotherapy may be relevant for a growing child. An osteotomy is a surgical option used in selected cases to realign a bone, not a treatment chosen from an image alone.

Seek prompt medical attention after an injury if there is severe pain, inability to bear weight, obvious new deformity, or rapidly increasing swelling. Arrange an appointment for persistent pain, repeated falls, a limp, reduced knee or hip movement, or a curve that is clearly progressing. Urgent assessment is appropriate when a cold, pale, numb, or unusually weak foot accompanies leg pain.

Is the alignment within a normal range for my age? Could one side be affected more than the other? Do I need an X-ray or another assessment? Could footwear, muscle control, or joint loading be contributing to symptoms? Which activities and exercises are suitable while this is being assessed?