Correcting bow legs in the young
Correcting bow legs in the young
Even for people who can walk comfortably and don't suffer from bow legs, the condition itself can be worrying to think about.
For those who do have bow legs, things can sometimes seem much worse, and this is especially the case for those who feel they don't have anywhere turn for help and advice.
This article aims to give you precisely the advice you need- so you can have a good idea of what bow legs are all about, and so you can act accordingly and take the right steps in treating them.
As the name suggests, bow legs are characterized by a distinctive and unusual bending of the legs in an outward direction.
No matter how close they bring their feet together, people with bow legs will show an unusually large gap between the knees. As well as this, their legs will form a clear and outward bow-shaped curve.
All children are born with bow legs, and this is completely normal. After being in their mother's womb for several months, all crouched up and folded, it's only natural that children are born with bow legs.
Once a child starts walking and is exposed to adequate amounts of nutrition through food and exposure to sunlight, however, the condition will often wear off naturally.
By the time a child reaches the age of around four years, his legs have usually already been straightened completely through the normal growth and development processes.
In some cases, however, things don't go this way, and a child might grow into an adult who suffers from bow legs as a permanent or chronic condition.
Factors contributing to bow legs
It's sometimes the case that people who retain bow legs into adulthood are suffering from a dietary deficiency such as a lack of Vitamin D, or a specific disorder such as Blount's Disease.
Lead or fluoride poisoning and Rickets are also potential factors that can cause bow legs.
A Vitamin D deficiency is one of the most common causes of bow legs. Vitamin D deficiencies usually result from malnutrition, and may sometimes be accompanied by a shortage of calcium and phosphorus, both of which are important nutrients when it comes to proper growth and bone development.
It's only logical, therefore, that a healthy and balanced diet can help prevent children from developing bow legs through malnutrition.
At the same time, taking steps to avoid malnutrition should help to prevent the condition from worsening in a child who is already suffering from bow legs. This makes it very important to have your child see a pediatrician regularly during their first four years so that he can ensure they aren't suffering from a vitamin deficiency.
In addition to making sure that your child has a balanced diet, it's possible to reduce the risk of Vitamin D deficiency by exposing your growing child to at least ten minutes of sunlight each day, and by asking a doctor to prescribe the relevant dietary supplements.
Blount's Disease is best detected during its early stages when your child is still developing and hasn't crossed the age of four years or so.
The reason being that braces, casts, and shoes used to treat bow legs are most effective when the bones are still growing and have a better chance of re-aligning themselves. If delayed beyond the growing years, the condition can become persistent or chronic.
While it can still be treated in adulthood, it will require will and determination, and a carefully formulated regimen of dietary supplementation and special physical training.
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