Conservative treatment of genu valgus and varum with medial/lateral heel wedges.

Symptomatic bowlegs and knock-knees are common in the aging person and aging athlete secondary to knee trauma. Diagnosis is made by observation and in mild degrees by a standing alignment x-ray that shows narrowing of the joint surface on the appropriate side. The patients complained of pain on the convexity side of the deformity. Treatment consisted of a simple exercise program, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and appropriate 1/8-inch wedges on the lateral side of the heel for bowlegs or on the medial side of the heel for knock-knees. The effect of a simple heel wedge formed the basis for conservative treatment of symptomatic knee deformities.