The technical names for your knock-knees or bow legs
Beyond the obvious aesthetic aspect, to live with genu valgus or genu varum could bring some problems such as joint pain, distensions or non-desirable muscular contractions.
Before I continue writing about how we can work to improve bow legs or knock knees on a physical level, I would like to open the door to their origins and causes. Because these causes are not only genetics, although your mum or grandad might also have knock-knees.
Culture, education and conditioning affect our posture
Our overall body posture and the way we use our body it’s in close relationship with our mind and personality.
If by this time you are still thinking that body and mind are two different and separated things, please consider from today onwards that they are exactly the same thing.
The way you align your legs, specially your knees, tells a lot about the way you move through life. It’s not by chance that knock-knees are much more common in women and bow legs are much more common in men. Feminism to the rescue!
I’m not saying that there aren’t other causes for this so called pathologies, but it’s very likely that the problem in your case has not got a psychological/educational origin, unless you suffer a mayor injury, of course.
The culture and conditioning, and the way we want to be seen by others (or protect ourselves from others) makes us use our body in different ways.
This obviously includes, the way we walk, we sit and we stand. Have a though about it and observe the people around you from this perspective. You’ll soon see how it works.
The consequences of a bad knee alignment
Having knock-knees could bring an overuse of your external leg muscles and distended ligaments in your inner knee. Besides, because we are putting our weight more in the external side than in the internal one, the external cartilage could be affected as well.
Bow legs have similar consequences but just on the opposite sides. I mean, if you walk, move and stand with bow legs, you are shortening the muscles in your inner thighs and you are creating distension in the external side of your knees.
You can change your posture. There is hope
Your body is constantly adapting itself to whatever you demand from it.
If we assume that our posture is the consequence of how we’ve used our body until today, then we know that if we change the way we use our body, our posture will change.
Most people think that bones are something rigid and that they won’t change its shape, but ¡this is not true!. Our bones are constantly being shaped by the use we do of them.
The change is not immediate, it might take some time, but it’s definitely possible and it’s in your hands.
In todays video I’m sharing two exercises for both cases, bow legs, and knock knees. One stretching exercise and one exercise to strengthen your potentially weak points.
Although these exercises are positive and will help you with your posture, there is not magic wand when it comes to body awareness and posture. Enjoy this endless evolving process!.
To be able to completely revert this knock–knee or bow legs habit, or at least not suffer the bad consequences, it won’t be enough with stretching and strengthening . You might also need to work on yourself in many different levels, maybe also including some psychological work.
In any case, by doing what I teach in the video you could prevent and correct a bit your postures, and you will definitely expose yourself to how it feels, physically and emotionally, to stand in life with a different base.
Why not giving it a try?. Play the video now.
Note: The audio in the video is not the best, I know, but you can still hear it. For the sake of romanticism I’ll tell you that I recorded it next to the River Thames, by Hamptom Court (London), in a very windy autumn day, with not many resources. I had all the fun recording it. I hope you forgive me and learn something despite the wind sounds, hehehe!
And after watching the video let me know in the comments:
- Have you got your knock-knees or bow legs?
- Have you ever had a problem as a consequence of that?
- What’s your biggest take away from this video and article?
Thank you very much for choosing to spend some time here in my blog. Your presence is very important to me.
Have a great week! See you soon 🙂
Zahida.
If you would like to get some help with your posture and body awareness in general, you can contact me for private lessons.
Ps. This video classes are for free and I make them with all my love. Win some karma points and share the love. If you think there is someone around you that can get a benefit from my videos, don’t be shy and share!
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