Knock Knees

My pediatrician told me and my Mom that I was knock kneed as a child but it wasn't bad enough to do anything about (he did not want me to have surgery!)...so I continued noting that it was awkward during gym class at school and impacted my ability to run...it was not until I turned to yoga as an adult that I learned to consider cultivating arch in my feet and change my knee alignment - there have been improvements. I agree that the chiropractor and orthopedic are good areas to consult with. Start with your pediatrician - mine used to have us walk in the annual checkup room and was looking at gait...You are right to see if you can get help for your daughter!

I have been knock kneed and pidgeon toed all my life. I wish that my parents had intervened when I was a kid. I took my son, who is now 3, for a eval w/ Dr. Bueche at M&M Orthopedics. They specialize in pediatric orthopedics. We were told there that the standard of treatment these days is not to intervene -- no orthodics or braces -- and that the majority of children "outgrow" the problem by age 9. He wanted us to come back when my son was 8. Of course, by age 8 or 9, if the problem persists, it is pretty serious, and he seemed to think that then surgery was the only solution. However, our physical therapist pushed for shoe orthodics and they really improved my son's gait immediately. So we will continue with PT and the orthodics. Also, we just went to the pediatrician's office this week for his 3 year old check up. They told us that Children's Memorial has a special "gait clinic." I guess there is a long waiting list, but I am going to look into it for my son, and I think this might be worth looking into for you too. Your case seems special since your daughter's condition was late starting and seems to be progressing. Maybe your pediatrician's office could help get you in with someone at CHildren's sooner because of your daughter's age and these special circumstances. I agree with you that you want to get it fixed, but that there should be a way to do it without surgery. You are right -- people will notice and sadly, people are cruel. Good luck!

Probably the best person to go to would be a pediatric orthopedist. They could do some xrays, check joints, and throughly evaluate her. The next step from there might be a physical therapist who could help with orthotics for alignment and strengthening, stretching if appropriate. Good luck!

Have her evaluated by a chiropractor, it could be a very easy fix! They are experts in far more than the spine. She may just need orthotics or exercises to strengthen specific muscles or flexibility. I see alot of miracles at my office working as a chiropractic assistant.

Your best bet is to have her seen by a pediatric orthopedist. Her "knock knees" could be compensating for flat/pronated feet and might be improved by orthotics.

Hi N., I have been pigeon toed all my life (what a name for it). As well, my twin sisters were born this way. I wore corrective shoes, but no brace and my sisters wore braces at a very early age starting before they crawled. They walk very straight now and I would have to say there is no correction for me at this point, nor will I do it.

As for being self conscious, if I see myself walk in a reflection, I always make an effort to walk straight, but once I am in the midst of work or play, I forget and go back to my same walk. I was teased a lot as a kid and as an adult had two major attacks on my appearance. Both who demonstrated for me what I looked like when I walked. I cried both times. One was my best friend and one was my husband. Both times it was a display of attention on their part, so I know there is something wrong with them, not me. Otherwise, it has no effect on me.

If you are looking for a correction, an Orthopedic (NOT a pediatrist) would be a good start. Take a look at the education levels for both types of doctor.

C.