What causes knock knees?

Knock knees are fairlycommon in healthy children under the ages of six or seven, and are just a normal part of growth and development.

The legs will normally gradually straighten as the child grows, although mild knock kneescan last into adulthood.

Knock kneesthatdevelop later in childhood or don't improve with age can sometimes be associated with an underlying problem, such as:

  • rickets problems with bone developmentresulting froma lack of vitamin D and calcium
  • excessive pressure on the knees for example,as a result of obesity or loose kneeligaments (the bands of tissue around joints that connect bones to one another)
  • an injury or infection affecting the knees or leg bones
  • genetic conditions affecting the development of the bones or joints

Adults can sometimes develop knock knees. These cases are often associated withjoint problems such as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis .

Content supplied by the NHS Website

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018