Bowed legs: when to seek advice
Symmetrical bowing is common in toddlers; worsening or uneven bowing deserves assessment.
Content updated:
Educational draft — awaiting physician approval
Illustrates movement only; it is not a diagnostic image.
Can bowing be normal?
Bowed legs curve outward, leaving space between the knees when the feet are together. This is often a normal stage in toddlers and gradually improves during early childhood. Normal developmental bowing is usually painless and does not prevent learning to walk.
When is assessment helpful?
Seek assessment if bowing increases, affects one leg more, persists beyond age three or causes pain. Examination considers growth and walking. Selected X-rays or blood tests can help identify causes such as a growth-plate disorder or rickets.
What are the treatment options?
Normal developmental bowing generally needs observation, without special shoes or braces. Other causes need specific care, which may include treating a confirmed deficiency, bracing or surgery to guide growth or realign the bone. Appearance alone cannot diagnose vitamin D deficiency.