Health News resources and information

As bow legs are common before the age of two, so knock knees are common in the age group two to five.

As with bow legs and in-toeing, there is little functional impairment from this condition but the appearance is unattractive and may require treatment.

Knock knees are thought to be due to posture and sleeping habits, although some researchers doubt this.

Sleeping on the back with the legs and feet rotated outwards like a frog, may be the cause. Or a child may sleep on his face with the legs extended and the feet turned in, but apart from each other.

Knock knees usually do not require treatment unless the child, standing with knees together, has the ankles at a greater distance than 10 cm (4 in).

Normally, if treatment is required, the legs can be placed in splints during sleep. Rarely are operations necessary.

It is wise for parents to avoid “folk lore” treatments, such as making the child wear his shoes on the opposite feet. This doesn’t work.

If parents are worried by their children’s feet and legs, medical advice should be sought. Most cases will not require treatment and will spontaneously revert to normal.

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Radiation is of course a problem with all forms of X-rays. The tavs are not completely harmless. Unlike light and the other forms of electromagnetic radiation, X-rays are a form of ionising radiation.

This word ‘ionising’ means that the X-rays are capable of damaging the actual molecules of substances that they pass through. The amount of damage depends on the ‘strength’ of the X-rays and the length of exposure. There is no amount of radiation that can be guaranteed as absolutely safe but it is believed that the amount of radiation involved in taking X-rays has only a very minute chance of causing problems such as cancer in the future. Every effort is made to keep the radiation to a minimum. Much research has gone into developing equipment that will take good X-rays with the least possible amount of radiation going through the patient. The rays only pass through you for a very short time while the machine is turned on. Your doctor and X-ray specialists between them should ensure that X-rays are taken in such a way that they get the maximum information for the least possible amount of radiation. Ask them about this if you are worried. They should tell you why the X-rays are being taken, what information they will give, and why it is important to have this information.

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