I'm bow-legged and the inside of my knee is wearing out. What can I do?

Why your inner knee is wearing

If your knees sit apart when your ankles touch, your leg is in varus alignment. Every step then loads the inner (medial) compartment of the knee more than the outer one. Over time, the cartilage and meniscus on the inside can thin, leading to an ache on the inner side when walking, climbing stairs, praying or standing for long periods. A previous meniscus tear or removal on that side can speed this up.

The good news is that the outer side of the knee often stays healthy, which opens up options that keep your own joint.

What can help now

• Losing excess weight, which reduces the load through the inner knee with every step
• A physiotherapy programme focused on the hip and thigh muscles
• Lower-impact exercise such as cycling, swimming or the cross-trainer, indoors during the hot months
• Supportive footwear, and sometimes a wedged insole or an unloader brace
• Short courses of anti-inflammatory medicine if safe for you, or an injection to settle a flare

These do not change the shape of the leg, but they often reduce symptoms meaningfully.

When realignment surgery is considered

If pain keeps limiting work, sport or daily life despite good non-surgical care, and you are relatively young and active with wear limited to the inner side, a high tibial osteotomy may be discussed. It corrects the bow so weight is shared towards the healthier outer compartment. In older patients or with more advanced wear, a partial or total knee replacement may suit better.

When to see a knee surgeon in Doha

Book an assessment if inner knee pain lasts more than a few weeks, your knee swells after activity, it catches or locks, or you feel your legs are becoming more bowed. At Aman Hospital, Dr. Gelber will examine your alignment and ligaments and arrange standing X-rays of the whole leg to see exactly where the load is falling.