What is the normal baby's leg shape? For most children, it is genu varum before about 2.5 years old, that is, O-leg, that is, X-leg, and genu valgus after about 3.5 years old. Children are born with O-legs. At about 2.5 to 3 years old, the legs will gradually straighten out. Soon, with the development, the child will gradually become an X-shaped leg, and then the X-shaped leg will gradually become straight. However, after the age of 7, many normal children, especially girls, will also have 5-7 genu valgus, most of which are normal. Most children's symmetrical O-legs and X-legs are physiological and belong to the normal process of development. As long as the age is almost aligned with genu varus, the two sides are symmetrical, and the child has no other abnormalities, you can temporarily observe it and don't worry too much.
Babies are all "O-legs" after birth, which is medically called "genu varus". Many old people think that their hind legs are not straight, and even use the method of "leggings" to make them straight, which is based on this situation. In fact, this is a normal physiological phenomenon, even if you don't wear leggings, you will slowly straighten yourself. Moreover, there has been evidence that "leggings" are a risk factor for infant hip dysplasia, so we don't recommend "leggings".
Usually, parents will notice his "O-leg" when the child learns to walk, and then take the child to the pediatric orthopedic clinic. However, this situation is normal and does not require any treatment. As the child grows from one and a half years old to two years old, the "O-leg" will naturally straighten out. This process is called "physiological genu varus".
However, once the "O-leg" is straightened, the "X-leg" will gradually appear with the growth of the child, and the "X-leg" will gradually increase, which is most obvious when the child is about 3 to 4 years old, and then it will gradually straighten with the growth and development of the child until the child is about 7 years old, and the development of the lower limbs tends to be stable. This process is called "physiological valgus" The hind limbs with stable development of lower limbs are not completely straight, but have an average of 6 eversion, which is normal for both adults and children. Generally speaking, eversion of women is greater than that of men. From the above introduction, we should now know that "physiological genu varus" and "physiological genu valgus" are normal physiological processes in children's growth and development, not abnormal manifestations!