X-legs

　　The main causes of X-legs include three types: one is rickets in children, another is the influence of congenital genetic factors, and there are also a small number of cases caused by sequelae such as dysplasia of cartilage, trauma, fractures, and so on. This kind of leg deformity not only affects the shape and beauty, but also has a significant impact on human health.

　　Whether genu varum or genu valgum, they both disrupt the normal distribution of force in the knee joint, causing the stress on one side of the joint to increase, while the stress on the opposite side decreases. At the same time, due to the change in lower limb alignment, the friction between the patella and the femur increases. Over time, this can cause pain in the knee when walking, affect joint movement, and easily lead to osteoarthritis. Correcting this leg shape can not only improve the beauty of the body shape but also improve the state of unbalanced knee joint stress.

　　In a normal knee joint, the pressure is evenly distributed on the joint surface. However, in people with 'X' leg, due to the outward bowing of the knee joint, the body weight is excessively concentrated on the lateral joint surface of the knee joint. At the same time, due to poor lower limb alignment, the friction between the patella and the femur increases, which is prone to patellar softening. Excessive pressure and friction can lead to wear of the lateral cartilage surface of the knee joint, collapse of the tibial plateau, and secondary osteoarthritis. As people get older, joint pain may occur, affecting normal walking activities.

　　The 'X' leg refers to the situation where, when the feet are together, the knees on both sides touch each other first, while the heels do not touch, resulting in a gait where the knees collide and hit each other when walking. After the feet are together, only the knees can touch, and there are gaps between the thighs and calves.

　　It belongs to the lower limb changes during the growth period, generally occurring between 4 to 6 years old. If the 'X' leg still appears after 4 to 5 or 6 years old, the cause may be congenital inheritance or acquired due to poor posture such as 'W' posture.

　　Prevention methods for 'X' leg
　　1. Moderate exercise

　　Rickets, trauma, and poor posture can all cause deformation of a child's legs. Therefore, during the growth and development of the child, parents should still prevent the deformation of the child's lower limbs. For example, when the child is between 2 and 3 years old, if they need to ride a tricycle, the time spent riding should not be too long, generally about 30 minutes is more suitable. In addition, it is also necessary to change the child's bad posture and habits in daily life, such as not allowing children to have the habit of kneeling with both lower limbs, encouraging children to engage in more outdoor activities to increase the strength of the muscles in the lower limbs. Children can be encouraged to persist in practicing two feet straight on a line, which can also improve the deformation of the lower limbs.

　　2. Pay attention to posture

　　Long-term maintenance of a certain posture may cause leg deformation. In childhood, the child's lower limbs undergo a physiological process from 'O' shape to 'X' shape to straightening, and this process generally has the following characteristics:

　　Within 2 years old: Due to factors such as body proportion issues, frequent use of diapers, and weight balance, the lower limbs tend to be in an 'O' shape; between 2 and 4 years old: due to factors such as growth, weight-bearing, and posture changes, the lower limbs will gradually tend to an 'X' shape; between 4 and 7 years old: during this period, the child's lower limbs will gradually straighten from the 'X' shape; around 10 years old: the appearance of the child's lower limbs will become completely straight.

　　3. Prevent obesity

　　Doctors believe that as long as the middle part of the thigh, the knee joint, and the ankle can be brought together, it is completely normal for children. Only when both knees can be brought together and the medial malleoli cannot be brought together, and the distance is more than 2 centimeters, is it considered 'X-shaped legs'. Children with 'X-shaped legs' are prone to collisions between the two knees and are more likely to fall.

　　In the past, most children's X-shaped legs were caused by rickets, but now rickets are rarely found in urban children. Now, children who are overweight or have flat feet are more likely to become 'X-shaped legs', which is mainly caused by the lower limbs bearing excessive weight. In addition, walking too early also tends to deform a child's legs.

　　1. Eat more calcium-rich foods

　　Broccoli, cauliflower, sprouts, spring vegetables, cabbage, watercress, Swiss chard, and other green vegetables are rich in easily absorbable calcium. The only exception is spinach, which although rich in calcium, is not easily absorbed. Nuts and seeds are also beneficial for calcium supplementation. Avoid eating junk food, sodas, and sugars.

　　2. Eat more dairy products

　　Dairy products are rich in calcium and are an excellent source of calcium supplementation. Especially for children, it is recommended to ensure the consumption of two bottles of fresh milk daily. Yogurt and cheese are also good for calcium supplementation.

　　3. Get more sunlight

　　A lack of vitamin D is related to insufficient sunlight exposure, and children should be encouraged to go out more and get more sunlight to produce enough vitamin D.

　　4. Eat more legumes

　　Research has found that eating more...LegumesFood can strengthen bones, legumes are rich in calcium, and products such as tofu are also rich in calcium. At the same time, these foods also contain magnesium, and both magnesium and calcium are essential for bone growth.

　　5. Regularly make bone soup for children

　　Bone soup is a good source of calcium, and it is beneficial for children to have bone soup regularly to promote their nutritional absorption and balance, and prevent the occurrence of rickets.

　　6. Add vinegar

　　Adding vinegar to bone soup can help dissolve calcium in the bones. O.5 of a liter of soup calcium is equivalent to the calcium content in 1 liter of milk.

　　For X-shaped legs, unless it is a genetic issue, has been injured, or has uneven growth, the chance of the leg shape actually being problematic is not high. That is to say, X-shaped legs still have the possibility of correction.

　　The main methods of treatment are divided into four: stretching and muscle training, auxiliary devices, surgery, and electrical stimulation.

　　1. Stretching and Muscle Training

　　Stretching and muscle training are mainly aimed at strengthening the muscles on the other side of the deformed parts, such as for O-shaped legs, the strength of the lower limb lateral muscles needs to be strengthened; for X-shaped legs, it is the opposite. As for in-toe, it usually indicates difficulty in hip abduction, and out-toe indicates difficulty in adduction, and stretching should also be done in the opposite direction. Stretching should be done to the baby's limit, but not allow the baby to feel pain, 15 seconds 15 times, twice a day in the morning and evening, if the parents are willing and the baby's cooperation is high, the number of times can be increased appropriately. Muscle training is 10 seconds 10 times, also twice a day in the morning and evening.

　　2. Auxiliary Devices

　　Medical correction requires the use of auxiliary devices and braces. For O-shaped legs and X-shaped legs within 20 degrees, orthopedic correction with auxiliary devices and braces is given; if it exceeds 20 degrees, surgery is required. Different auxiliary devices may be worn at different times of the day, many of which are worn during sleep. At first, it may be uncomfortable and cause restless sleep, but as the time increases gradually, it will not be a problem after getting used to it. In addition, using auxiliary devices for correction takes a longer time, and larger changes need to be returned for a visit once a week, while smaller changes can be returned for a visit every three months.

　　3. Surgery

　　Surgery is often the last resort. Generally, for severe deformities, failed orthopedic correction, or when the bone maturation stage is reached (female after 16 years old, male after 18 years old), the leg shape is fixed, and surgical correction is chosen. In general, surgery can be corrected successfully, so there is no problem of missed the golden period of treatment for leg shape issues. It is just that starting to do stretching, muscle training, and other actions early can reduce the likelihood of future surgery, and if surgery is needed, it may also be a small surgery.

　　4. Electrical Stimulation

　　Sometimes 'electrical stimulation' is used to achieve the effect of muscle contraction training. However, doctors generally do not recommend this passive treatment and often encourage active treatment, such as stretching and muscle strength training, unless the effectiveness of self-rehabilitation is not significant, and then targeted electrical stimulation is given to the appropriate muscle groups.