Exercise the lower limb muscles to help improve knee joint degeneration and leg deformity

O-shaped feet and X-shaped feet not only affect the external body shape, but may alsojoint strainAn orthopedic specialist said that many patients with knee problems are prone to O-shaped feet, while X-shaped feet may be caused by ankle orHip problemsPeople with rheumatoid arthritis are at a higher risk. Foot deformation can easily put extra pressure on the knee joints, affecting mobility. In severe cases, even walking can be painful. Doctors point out thatKnee joint degenerationPatients can use knee replacement surgery to solve the problems caused by degeneration and achieve the effect of correcting body shape at the same time.

Most people are not born with perfectly straight feet, but severe foot deformities can be a sign of health problems. Dr. Sha Huiliang, an orthopedic specialist at Hong Kong Adventist Hospital (Stubbs Road), explains that foot deformities can generally be determined visually: when the feet are placed close together, the space between the knee joints should be large enough to accommodate the palm of a hand, about one centimeter. Genu varum, commonly known as O-knee, occurs when the knees cannot close together when the feet are placed side by side, with the gap being as wide as a fist. Genu valgum, commonly known as X-knee, occurs when the knees touch but the medial malleolus cannot close together.

Sha Huiliang pointed out that most foot deformities caused by knee strain and degeneration are primarily bow feet. Acquired factors such as excess weight, poor posture, and improper exercise can also contribute to foot deformities. Knee degeneration commonly occurs during middle age. When the medial knee is subjected to prolonged pressure, the cartilage gradually degenerates due to wear and tear, leading to bow feet. At this point, the supporting capacity of the lateral ligaments becomes weak and unstable. If the condition worsens rapidly, normal mobility may be lost within a short period of time, making walking difficult.

As for the acquired causes of bow feet, they are generally related to ankle or hip problems, but can also be caused by fractures or rheumatoid arthritis. Sha Huiliang also noted that people with flat feet are not necessarily at high risk. While having flat feet or high arches does not necessarily mean that the feet will be deformed, the pressure on the knees will be different, which can easily cause pain.

Sha Huiliang said that early-stage patients can use medication to relieve pain, or undergo physical therapy to strengthen muscle strength and exercise flexibility. Some patients with severe conditions will use orthopedic ankle braces to slightly adjust the degree of force, but this process is relatively arduous. Patients can also solve the problem through knee replacement surgery. Patients with general strain and degeneration can consider partial knee replacement to relieve pain, but this surgery cannot correct body shape. In addition, most patients seeking medical treatment are in the late stages of the disease, so most of them need total knee replacement, which can not only solve the pain problem but also achieve the corrective effect. Sha Huiliang reminds the public to exercise more often and exercise muscle strength and flexibility to prevent deformation of the feet and reduce the risk of joint degeneration.