Knock knees is a common condition in children where the knees tilt inward while the ankles remain far apart when standing with the feet together.
While knock knees usually corrects itself, it can continue on, leading to pain and difficulty walking. Learn more about knock knees.
What Causes Knock Knees?
Knock knees manifests early and has a variety of causes; usually, it is one of the following:
- Normal growth and development in children
- Obesity, which puts extra pressure on the knees
- Injury or damage to the growth plate around the knee
- Rickets or other conditions affecting bone development
- Genetic conditions like skeletal dysplasias
Treatment For Knock Knees
The treatment for knock knees will depend on the severity and underlying cause of the condition. Mild cases may resolve on their own and only require observation and regular checkups to ensure progress.
More severe cases may require the following:
- Wearing a knee brace can help realign the knees
- Exercises to strengthen leg muscles and improve range of motion
- Special shoes or insoles to correct foot positioning
- Maintaining a healthy weight reduces stress on the knees
- Rarely needed, reserved for severe cases not responding to other treatments
How Insoles Help With Knock Knees
Insoles can help ease pain from knock knees and ensure proper gait in the following ways:
- Insoles designed for knock knees typically feature wedging, which can help redistribute weight toward the outer edge of the foot. This reduces the inward angle characteristic of knock knees.
- By providing proper arch support, insoles help prevent excessive foot pronation, which is often associated with knock knees.
- Insoles can add stability to help control foot motion during walking and standing. This helps maintain better alignment up through the ankles and knees, reducing the stress that can worsen knock knee positioning.
- For children with developmental knock knees, insole support during growth periods can help guide proper bone and joint development.
- The shock-absorbing properties of quality insoles help reduce impact forces that may stress already compromised knee joints.