What Are Knock Knees?
Knock knees (also known as genu valgum or inverted knees) are a leg alignment condition where the knees angle inward and touch when standing, while the feet and ankles remain apart. You may also hear them described as inward knees or crooked knees.
They’re most common in children between the ages of three and seven, where the condition is a normal part of leg development. In many cases, alignment corrects itself naturally by age eight. However, when knock knees persist into the teenage years or adulthood, or are causing pain and movement difficulty, assessment and treatment are worth pursuing.
What Causes Knock Knees?
In children, knock knees are usually part of normal growth. Contributing factors can include:
- Genetics, as knock knees tend to run in families
- Flat feet or low arches affect how the load is distributed through the leg
- Ligament laxity (hypermobility)
- Vitamin D deficiency or rickets in rare cases
- Underlying bone conditions in more severe presentations
Some children may develop knock knees again around puberty, even if the condition appeared to resolve earlier.
Signs It May Be Worth Getting Assessed
Knock knees don’t always require treatment, but a podiatry assessment is recommended if:
- The inward knee position appears to be getting worse over time
- One leg is noticeably more affected than the other
- Your child has developed a limp or complains of knee, hip, or foot pain
- The condition persists or worsens into the teenage years
- An adult is experiencing pain or functional difficulty linked to their knee alignment
How We Treat Knock Knees
For children, our podiatrists take a monitoring-first approach — tracking alignment over time to determine whether intervention is needed. Where treatment is appropriate, it may include:
- Gait and biomechanical assessment — to understand how the knee position is affecting movement through the foot, ankle and hip
- Custom foot orthotics — to improve foot posture and reduce strain on the knees
- Footwear guidance — supportive, well-fitted shoes play a meaningful role in managing inward knee positioning
- Strengthening and stretching exercises — targeted programs to improve hip and lower limb alignment
- Referral if required — for severe or persistent cases, we’ll refer to an orthopaedic specialist where surgical options may be considered
Why Choose Highett Podiatry?
We see children, teenagers and adults with knock knees across our podiatry clinics located at Highett and Mentone. Our podiatrists assess the whole lower limb, not just the knee, to understand what’s driving the alignment issue and whether intervention is needed. We take a practical, evidence-based approach and won’t recommend treatment unless it’s genuinely warranted.