Q.In which postural deformity do the knees touch each other while the ankles remain apart when the person stands with the feet together?

When a person stands with feet together, the knees touch while the ankles stay apart, creating an inward angulation at the knee joint that forms an "X" shape when viewed from the front. The medical term for this alignment is genu valgum, commonly called knock knee. In this deformity, the femur and tibia meet at an increased angle, causing the knees to converge medially while the lower legs angle outward, keeping the ankles separated. …

Understanding Knee Alignment Deformities

The alignment of the lower limbs determines how weight is distributed through the legs during standing and movement. In normal alignment, a vertical line drawn from the hip should pass through the center of the knee and ankle. When this alignment is disrupted, characteristic deformities appear that affect both appearance and function.

Knock knee, or Genu Valgum, describes a condition where the femur (thigh bone) angles inward excessively, causing the knees to converge toward the midline of the body. When someone with this deformity stands with their feet placed together, the knees touch or even overlap while a noticeable gap remains between the ankles. The legs form an "X" shape when viewed from the front. This inward angulation at the knee joint creates mechanical stress on the medial (inner) compartment of the knee and can lead to altered gait patterns, with the person often walking with a compensatory outward rotation of the feet.

The deformity may be physiological in young children (typically between ages 3–5, resolving naturally) or pathological when it persists beyond childhood or appears due to factors like rickets, obesity, trauma, or bone diseases. Corrective measures include strengthening exercises for the hip abductors and knee stabilizers, stretching of tight structures, weight management, and in severe cases, orthotic support or surgical intervention.

Why the Other Options Are Wrong

(a) Bow legs (Genu Varum) produces the opposite picture: the knees remain apart while the ankles may touch or come close together when standing. The legs curve outward, forming an "O" shape. A person with bow legs shows a gap between the knees when the feet are together—exactly the reverse of what the question describes. …