Knock knees is a condition that is commonly found in young children where the knees touch each other when standing straight and the lower legs go out. This is often first found in children between the ages of 3 and 5 and usually is able to fix itself by the time the child reaches seven years old. If the problem does not rectify itself, the doctors may consider using braces to straighten the knees or have the child wear corrective shoes. If this condition is not fixed in childhood, it may continue through to adulthood and begin to cause a problem for the adult affected. Adults can also become knock kneed due to arthritis or a severe injury to the knee.
The best way to correct knock knees in adults is to strengthen the knee by doing a series of exercises. Various types of exercises can be done to strengthen the knees including seated quadriceps contraction, leg strengthening exercises and hamstring curls. Be sure to select exercises that work to strengthen the muscles in your knee and not ones that put a lot of stress on the knee like running or mountain climbing because these types of exercises can actually damage the knee instead. Being overweight can also cause knock knees and because of this fact a good way to treat knock knees is to bring your weight down to a normal level. Excess weight can add a lot of stress to your knee only making the knock knee condition worse.
If you have tried these various methods and have had no results then surgery may be the right answer for you. Corrective surgery works best for children who are between the ages of ten and eleven but may work for adults as well. Usually for adults instead of corrective surgery being done, most doctors will recommend an entire knee replacement as the best surgery to correct knock knees. As with all surgeries knee replacement has its own set of dangers and risks that you should consider before having the surgery done.
If the knock knee condition persists or worsens during adulthood, a complete examination by a doctor should be done. The doctor will be able to assess your situation and give their expert opinion of what the best options to correct knock knees in adults are. Due to the risk involved, all alternative methods should be tried before even considering having a knock knee correction surgery done.
{ 37 comments… read them below or add one }
Hello, am 23 years old and i have knock knees in both knees. When i try and exercise a lot of the time my right knee hurts to the point where i can’t bend my knee for weeks without it causing me to much pain therefore, i struggle to go up and down the stairs and to exercise e.t.c. Also i am little insecure of the way my knees look however, i think at least i can walk! I have only recently learnt that surgery is option however; i am scared to consider surgery as option but at the same time am scared to exercise! I read it could take a long time to recover which again scares me as I have a 2 year old daughter! Could someone please give me some advice regarding surgery options, risks, and recovery time? Thank you. x
Hi, Victoria
My name is Soo and I am currently working as a physiotherapist in Australia. I was wondering exactly what exercises you have been doing and how much/often you do them. Also, have you tried braces or casts before? Surgery can certainly be an option, but being as young as you are, I wouldn’t want to recommend a surgical approach. Cheers.
Soo
hey soo! its glad to see that a specialist is taking part in this type of talk as every doc has only one answer to knock knees problem i.e. Surgery! I have a little misalignment in my knees and i want to change it, but without a knife… So could you plz suggest some exercises or other regime so as to improve the condition… I am 21 male…
Hi, I am 17 years old and i have had knocked knees all my life. My knees do not hurt, and i can exercise fine, but should i still be worried about correcting them?
Hi, im 24 yrs old and i have knock knees i was actually browsing around to see what good surgeons we have here in texas that performs that type of surgery…i was hoping that some one would inform me on the type of exercises i should do before considering the surgery although i am really scared of the surgery and the risks..i hate my knock knees and would do anything to fix them..any suggestions?
Hi, im 14 and and have knock knees. I was wondering what the most common ways of fixing it is. It doesnt hurt me, however, it just is very ugly. Any suggestions? Thanks.
Hi, I am a 50 year old female. I have been knocked knee all of my like. My thighs are twice the size of the bottom parts of my legs. I’m not in pain but I feel uncomfortable in shorts and dresses. Is there anything I can do to correct this problem?
Hi, my name is Jane, I am 19 and have knocked knees. My dad and auntie also have knocked knees and had surgery but that hasn’t helped a lot. I’m also slightly overweight but I don’t know what exercises to do to help me loose weight because I don’t want to put too much strain on my knees. My knees, ankles and hip bones also hurt from time to time too. I’ve seen a lot of doctors and they all advise just to take calcium and vitamin D. I don’t want to have surgery unless its a necessity. Is there any way to make the pain stop and strengthening the knees?
hi,iam rodolf 42 years old since chilhood they always teasing me knocked knee when iam 17 years of age i try to to exercise my knee in bending position left to rigth and i think their is developement in correcting my knee when i wearing long pants it is not noticible that i had this condition i enjoy it to become normal the way i walk but when i reach in the middle age and i gain more weigth this is the time that even i wear a long pants it is obviuos that i had this knee condition maybe i would suggest to loose my weigth and proper exercise with knee bending straigthening presently iam working as ct mri technologist in the middle east
i hate having this black face, bad body, and knock knees
HELP ME
Dont be ashamed of what you cant control, especially the color of your skin. I always hated my white face, bad body and knock knees. Turns out I found a great guy who wanted to marry me, and in his eyes Im beautiful. Treat yourself as good you treat other people..you are worthy of it. If you surround yourself with shallow people, sometimes we become shalliw. Excercise and eat right for health, and you will fibd energy to excercise..tge rest will fall into place. God Bless…
I hv a knocked as a result of an accident dat happend 9yrs ago. I’m criously considering surgery cuz it mks my waist aches as I cn’t walk str8. Wat r d risks involved plz? I’m 23
Hello, I have knock knee’s and although I rarely paid attention to it, I do not like how it looks when I walk. My two year old son’s knee’s are beginning to become knock knee’s, so im currently looking for ways to correct it before it develops into something that cannot be fixed easily.
Hi, I am 19 female and i have knock knee. but my parents and sibling doesnt have knock knee and is there any way that i can straighten my knee/leg? and also i sometimes have knee pain, is it related to knock knee?
Hello,
i’m 29 years and i have knocked knees. i feel i’m not attractive because i can’t wear all those cute short skirts and shorts. my husband likes it when other ladies were short clothes. what should i do? can some PLEASE HELP? i’m very desperate
hi guys…just bind your feet..and put the things which have high width as yours course books between your kneess and try to stand straight…do it excercise daily atleast for 20 min..and at night time use braces….. please dont feel uncomfertable..and dont hate urself due to this…at least u people are better than tose who cant walk……please dont leave the special moments of ur llife just for ur feet…enjoy the life..wear what do u want to wear …either its look odd or not…its ur life not the others…
Dear Mr. Anderson can you please elaborate on this exercise mentioned above? I need to place a course book between my knees and stand straight for 20 mins without moving? Will this help my knocked knees? Please provide more details as I am really sad with my condition.
Hi guys i have the same problem. I have knock kness which knocks down my confidence. The worse thing is that my husband tease me . However, I do not allow the look of my knees to stop me from wearing what i like. The truth is that am always unconfortable even though i try not to show it. My son is 7 and he has knock knee. Can i still get his knees corrected? What about mine. Pls help! Am 35.
Thanks….
Your Husband is an immature z!!z… Let him know it hurts, if he doesnt care, he doesnt deserve you. My husband will tell me he doesnt notice my knock knees..true ir not, he cares about my feelings.
i m 23 yrs old.i m suffering from knock knee.tell me any kind of cure or surgery.i want go for modelling,but due to this my body physic is being disturbed
hi! i am 25 and with a knock knee. i feel bad about my knee is improper. what corrective exercise should be done? am doing some exercise but it still uncorrected. thank you!
Hi, my name is Ivy, and just like all of you, I hated my knock knees until the Lord led me to Dr. Rozbruch in New York City. I had my surgery in 2008 and it been the best thing for me. I never wore jeans from the time I was 12 to 32. Today, I am happy and not self conscious when I walk. Please take heart and try to love yourself for the person you are inside. If you really want to change the way your knees look please call Dr. Rozbruch in NYC at 212 606 1415. Tell him Ivy sent you.
Good Luck and God Bless!
Is there anyone else with knock knees that knows some good exercises to at least improve this condition? Surgery is not an option for me. Many thanks!
I’m a 14 year old (turning 15 in March) male, and I have knock knees and it really looks weird to me. My ankles and knees touch at the same time so its just a slight case. I want my ankles to touch and not my knees. Is there any way to fix this without surgery?! Thanks!
* Simply stand on a wooden curve plank and do sit ups 5-7 a day
* Try to ride a horse daily. But if no horse is avaible then try to ride the cycle and try to move it by opening your knees in ” V” Shape.
* When you are sleeping then try to place a pillow between your legs.
these exercises will help you to get rid of knock knees…..gud luck !!!
Riding a horse, riding a bike, and the pillow theory just do not work. Been there done that, rode horses every weekend for ~5 years when I was a kid. I still have horrible knock knee and it makes me so self conscious because I hate jeans. I don’t understand how being overweight has much to do with it because I’m not and have never been anywhere near overweight. I’m almost 20 years old and live a healthy, active life. I would just love to be comfortable with my legs in shorts! I’d like to know more about these braces being discussed please.
Hello my beautiful Knock Knee Family!! I am 26 and consider myself slightly knock knee. Although I dont like it much, I have learned to accept it. I wear skinny jeans, knee boots, skirts and shorts and recieve compliments all the time. I would suggest a straight, boot, or flare cut jean, and skirts that hit at knee or below. Its all about being confident!! From time to time i become a little discouraged like now and decided to do some research. Knee excercises are very good to help strengthen the knee like squats, knee bends etc. I have also been told by my dad to point my toes inward which helps the appearance. Hope this helps someone and remember, take what God gave you and WORK it!!!
Hi ivy, how long did your recovery take and just about how affordable is this surgery. I’m 42, have knock knees and interested in getting help ASAP .God bless you
Hey, I’am Mayank, 21 years old. Having mild knock knee.
Is there any treatment to bring it back to normal position.
I have never suffered any accident or any other medical problem.
It is from my childhood but I have noticed it now.
Hey
I m Shamee. I m 20years old and I have knock knee problem. Please tell me some good tips or exercises for solving this problem… plz plz plz I’m waiting for your reply.
Hi, my name is rosemary. I have knocked knees from the time I was 12 years old. I have never wanted to do any surgery and I dont even mind the way I look because of it. I only have knee pain quite often and I would like to know if there is any natural home remedy that I can adopt to control my knee pain. I am now 37 and would like to just keep my knee in condition and not let it go down further. Please help
I am a therapist here in the states and one thing you need to look at is just not the knee but week hip abductors . Knees may test out with good strength but weak hips and a weak core can lead to genuine valgum. Adding hip abduction exercises may help.
Please can you tell me is it that as I grow with age I will not be able to walk. What is it that I can do ? Like I said earlier i don’t mind the way I look but all that I want is to keep my knees strong and what tests should I do in order to know what exactly needs to be done. Thanks
Im Courtney, im 18 and I’ve had knock knees all my life. Im in a lot of pain and my knees constantly pop and grind I wear braces a lot to try and keep my knees from bending. It keeps me up a lot at night. The thing is I’m afraid of surgery because I’m a dancer. I don’t know what I would do without dancing, an I’m afraid of losing my mobility and I’m not sure what to do, any suggestions?
I experienced this knock knee thingy at the age of 12.My right knee goes in much more than the left does. I guess left is fine with me….U wouldn’t really notice when i wear jeans or shorts..but jeans is quite the best for me nw…I’m doing thigh build up and it helps a lot. I’m in Africa and will be coming to the US of A pretty soon. I’d like to know if there are braces or other devices out to help out.
I’d appreciate any ideas or info. from any 1. U can send me an email @ alangottschalk@yahoo.com
Regards,
Ken
Hello
I want to know how can I get surgey to fix my knock knees I reaaly need help…
hey my name is valerie, im 15 and i have knock knees in both knees.My knock knees started when i was about 6 and i have gradually gotten worse. Every time i walk i feel self conscious because of my legs.one of my very close friends actually told me what was wrong with my knees . im very desperate to fix it is there any way i can cure my knock knees. if you know please respond please.