Bowlegged Adults and Back Pain

Bowed legs are common in infants because of the way their legs are held in the womb. This is something that generally corrects itself as the infant develops. Slightly bowed legs in adolescents and adults can be normal and will cause no ongoing problems, according to the UCSF Children’s Hospital. Only if the condition is causing pain, back pain or health issues would treatment be necessary.

A person is considered to be bowlegged if, while standing with feet and ankles together, the knees bow away from one another. Even if the condition seems noticeably substantial, no treatment is required unless health problems such as on-going back pain exist as well. Being bowlegged, in and of itself, is not a health concern.

Causes

Bowed legs in adults may be a congenital issue with no underlying health problems. However, it may also be a sign of an illness or deficiency. For example, a deficiency of vitamin D can cause a disease called Rickets, according to MedLinePlus, which is characterized by bowed legs. If, as an adult, the legs are bowed such that they affect how the person walks, sits, causes back pain or if the posture is affected, a physician should be contacted.

The UCSF Children’s Hospital reports that the primary signs that a person is bowlegged are a substantial gap between the knees when standing with feet together and a marked difference in knee angles at this stance. Symptoms caused by the condition include poor posture, difficulty walking, back pain and discomfort.

A physician can identify a bowlegged individual by observation. Identifying the cause will include blood tests for conditions such as rickets and x-rays to discover the extent of the deformation and any underlying causes such as back pain, according to MedLinePlus. X-rays will also give the physician a baseline record of the condition, making it easier to determine if the curvature is worsening over time.

If the patient is experiencing no discomfort, back pain or inconvenience as a result of the condition, no treatment is necessary. However, if the patient is seeking relief from symptoms caused by the condition, various treatments are available. If the problem is caused by rickets or another illness, that illness will be treated with vitamin supplements and whatever other medications are deemed necessary by the physician.

Orthotic devices can correct the stance of the patient, repairing posture problems and possibly relieving related back pain. Exercises and physical therapy may be prescribed to correct posture and strengthen the muscles in the back to relieve back pain, which would also provide pain relief in the joints. According the UCSF Children’s Hospital, in extreme cases, surgery is also a viable treatment to straighten the legs.

Photo Credit: Whatsername? @ flickr