What is physiologic genu varum?
Some children have curving or bowing of their legs; when sitting, standing or walking, their knees seem far apart. The medical term for this is genu varum. In the first 12 months of life, bowed legs are normal (physiologic). The legs naturally bow outward and begin to straighten as the baby/toddler grows. For most children, the bowing tends to improve by about 18 months, but in many children, it persists a little longer. By age 4, it is common to see the child become knock-kneed, and then by age 7-10 the legs have usually straightened. Occasionally, the bowing may be due to an abnormality of the growth plate at the top of the shin bone (tibia) at the knee, infection, or a specific condition affecting the bones. Your physician will explain the cause to you.
