Bow Legs
Free Symptom Checker
with Physician-supervised AI
Reviewed By:
Kent C Doan, MD (Orthopedics)
Dr Doan Graduated from the University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine and completed residency training in Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Colorado. He completed additional fellowship training in Orthopedic Sports Medicine at the prestigious Steadman Clinic and Steadman Philippon Research Institute in Vail, Colorado. He is a practicing Orthopedic Surgeon who specializes in complex and revision knee and shoulder surgery at the Kansas City Orthopedic Institute. He also holds an assistant professorship at the University of Kansas City.
Tomohiro Hamahata, MD (Orthopedics)
Dr. Hamahata graduated from the Jikei University of Medical Science. After working at Asanokawa General Hospital and Kosei Chuo Hospital, he joined the Department of Orthopedics at Asakusa Hospital in April 2021, specializing in general orthopedics and joint replacement surgery.
Content updated on Nov 26, 2023
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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Try one of these related symptoms.
Congenital genu varum
Bow legs
Legs curve outward at the knees
How Ubie Can Help You
With a free 3-min Bow Legs quiz, powered by Ubie's AI and doctors, find possible causes of your symptoms.
This questionnaire is customized to your situation and symptoms, including the following personal information:
Biological Sex - helps us provide relevant suggestions for male vs. female conditions.
Age - adjusts our guidance based on any age-related health factors.
History - considers past illnesses, surgeries, family history, and lifestyle choices.
Your symptoms
Our AI
Your report
Your personal report will tell you
✔ When to see a doctor
✔︎ What causes your symptoms
✔︎ Treatment information etc.
People with similar symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes
- Legs shaped like an "O"
- Genu varum
Just 3 minutes.
Developed by doctors.
Try Free Symptom QuizAbout the Symptom
Bowed legs is a condition where one or both of the legs curve outward at the knees. It is also called genu varum.
When to See a Doctor
Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms
- Low back pain
Possible Causes
Generally, Bow legs can be related to:
- Osteoarthritis (OA)
Wear and tear of the joint cartilage over time. Risk factors include repetitive joint movements and carrying heavy loads for many years.
Osteomalacia / Rickets
Rickets is the softening and weakening of bones in children, usually due to an extreme and prolonged vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium and phosphorus from food. Insufficient vitamin D makes it difficult to maintain proper calcium and phosphorus levels in bones, which can cause rickets.
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
A chronic inflammatory disease where the body's immune system attacks multiple joints, most commonly in the hands and feet. The cause and trigger is unknown.
- Osteoporosis
- Lumbar Spondylosis
Hypophosphatasia (HPP)
Doctor's Diagnostic Questions
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:
- Do you have bow legs?
- How long have you had knees not touching when standing with heels together?
Just 3 minutes.
Developed by doctors.
Try Free Symptom QuizFind Similar Symptoms
Symptoms from similar body parts
Symptoms treated by the same specialty
References
Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 3(6):p 326-335, November 1995.
Reviewed By:
Kent C Doan, MD (Orthopedics)
Dr Doan Graduated from the University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine and completed residency training in Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Colorado. He completed additional fellowship training in Orthopedic Sports Medicine at the prestigious Steadman Clinic and Steadman Philippon Research Institute in Vail, Colorado. He is a practicing Orthopedic Surgeon who specializes in complex and revision knee and shoulder surgery at the Kansas City Orthopedic Institute. He also holds an assistant professorship at the University of Kansas City.
Tomohiro Hamahata, MD (Orthopedics)
Dr. Hamahata graduated from the Jikei University of Medical Science. After working at Asanokawa General Hospital and Kosei Chuo Hospital, he joined the Department of Orthopedics at Asakusa Hospital in April 2021, specializing in general orthopedics and joint replacement surgery.
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I was actually very impressed with the results it provided because, although I didn’t mention it during the questionnaire because I thought it was unrelated, it suggested I may have something I’ve actually been diagnosed with in the past.
(Sep 25, 2024)
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Link to full study:
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