Many parents may have worried that when children are 4 or 5 months old, they like to jump on the adult’s lap when they are supported. After about ten months, some will stand up with their things on their hands. Will this cause O-shaped or X-shaped legs?
These concerns are understandable. After all, the bones of children are somewhat different from those of adults. Compared with adults, children’s bones have more organic components and are not as firm as adult bones.
But this worry is unnecessary.
To cause O-shaped or X-shaped legs of the lower limbs, either the child’s two calf bones (tibia, fibula) are bent at the same time, or the child’s epiphysis (the growth point of the bones) is injured. This requires a lot of strength.
Just like adults, children's bodies have self-protection mechanisms, which can cause damage to the body, and basically cause pain and other discomfort. If the pressure of jumping or standing is strong enough to deform the legs, it is unlikely that the body will not respond.
When children are 4 or 5 months old, they do not have the ability to walk. When they are picked up, kicking and kicking is a normal developmental movement for this age group, as written in "Nielsen Pediatrics": A 4-month-old child will use his feet if he is held upright.
When they start to learn to stand, their lower limb strength and body balance cannot support them standing for too long. They will sit down if they are tired. At this time, if you force them to continue to stand, they may cry, let alone stand until they are allowed to stand. The strength and strength of the deformation of the legs have been improved.
In the worst case, even if the lower limbs are slightly deformed by pedaling or standing, they can be repaired by themselves. This is because children’s bones are very plastic. Children’s fractures are not so well connected even if they are not well connected, and they are a bit angled or even misaligned. In the process of walking, it will gradually straighten by itself, so the requirements for the treatment of children's fractures are not as high as adults.
Of course, if the child has other diseases, such as Blount’s disease, skeletal dysplasia, etc., whether he stands early or not, the lower limbs may have abnormal morphology. If the child has an X-shaped leg within 2 years of age, or has When you are 2 years old, you still have O-shaped legs, or your lower limbs are asymmetrical, or if you think your child’s O-shaped legs are particularly serious, you need to see a doctor.
How to prevent babies from having abnormal leg shapes
1. Regular follow-up
Physiological O-legs or X-legs are the natural law of baby's development and generally do not require special intervention, but it is best to go to the pediatric orthopedics examination every 4 to 6 months in order to find abnormalities in time;
Self-test small method:
If you relax your legs in a quiet state, when the knee joints are close together, the distance between the ankle joints on both sides is more than 6cm; when the ankle joints are close together, the distance between the knee joints on both sides is more than 6cm, you need to take your baby to consult a doctor to confirm whether there is X-leg or O-leg problem.
2. Reject leggings
Leggings may affect the development of bones, joints, and muscles, and even lead to another developmental deformity-developmental dislocation of the hip;
3. Avoid kneeling/W sitting
When the baby is sitting on his knees, his feet are mostly valgus. At this time, it is best for parents to help the baby move his feet as much as possible to help him return to a normal state.
4. Ensure sufficient vitamin D and calcium
Lack of vitamin D may cause rickets, resulting in O-legs or X-legs.
In fact, the development of the baby's legs has its own certain rules. As the growth and development, it will naturally improve. Don't worry too much, let alone correct it blindly and harm your baby's body.