Today I learned how to assess posture. As with everything else I am learning in school, I thoroughly enjoyed it and I can’t wait to become a PT!
I also found out something I never knew about myself: I have bowlegs (genu varum). I was very surprised to discover this, but it definitely explains some of my other faults such as foot pronation and IT band syndrome. I also stand with a wider base of support (feet father apart) than most people. My professor said it’s be genetic, so I’m curious to see who else in my family has it.
Below is a picture I posted a few months ago, and I didn’t realize it at the time, but it really shows how my leg bow and I stand with my feet pretty far apart.
Here is picture showing the different stances people can have. On the left is bowlegs, in the middle is normal, and on the right is knock-kness.
Picture source: http://www-sante.ujf-grenoble.fr/SANTE/corpus/popup/popupgif.htm?http://www-sante.ujf-grenoble.fr/SANTE/corpus/disciplines/ortho/ortho/hp5/image2.gif
I always kinda knew that, but never knew it was a medical condition! Sorry to have passed that trait on to you – but what I can’t figure out is how I got it, since Gramma & Grandpa don’t seem to be that way. We will have to check them out, too….Now can you come up with treatments and exercises to minimize the impacts? That is your PT challenge! Thanks for sharing this with us!
It’s not necessarily a medical condition – it’s just a deviation from the norm. The treatment is to do exercises for correct foot, knee, and hip positions. You’re also supposed to avoid knee hyperextension and strengthen the hip lateral rotators. In some cases, you can use inner wedges on the heels to correct foot pronation. I’ll learn the exact exercises in the next two years!