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 Apr 4, 2024
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
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This questionnaire is customized to your situation and symptoms, including the following personal information:
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Bowed legs is a condition where one or both of the legs curve outward at the knees. It is also called genu varum.
Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms
Generally, Bow legs can be related to:
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.
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.
Hypophosphatasia (HPP)
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:
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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