Soccer players have a higher incidence of bow legs due to athletic stress
Multiple studies demonstrate that soccer and football players exhibit a high incidence of bow legs (genu varum), which becomes more pronounced with increasing age and sports participation due to athletic stress and structural adaptations.
The retrieved literature consistently supports the claim that soccer players experience a high incidence of bow legs (genu varum) associated with athletic stress and increasing age/playing career duration. Studies specifically analyzing young and professional soccer players (e.g., [3], [4], [8], [10]) document the presence and progression of varus alignment linked to sports participation. There are no refuting papers provided that contradict the connection between soccer participation/athletic stress and bow legs.
Nguyen A, Beasley I, Calder J. Stress fractures of the medial malleolus in the professional soccer player demonstrate excellent outcomes when treated with open reduction internal fixation and arthroscopic spur debridement.. 2019. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-019-05483-6
Paper 3 notes that lower limb varus alignment (bow legs) is prevalent in professional soccer players and linked to athletic stress fractures.
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Femke Steffen, Tim Rolvien, Matthias Krause, Karsten Hollander, Tim Hoenig, Karl-Heinz Frosch, Götz H. Welsch, Dimitris Dalos. Analysis of Genu Varum in Young Male Professional Soccer Players. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1177/23259671251330602
Paper 4 demonstrates a significant increase in static and dynamic varus alignment (bow legs) with age in young professional soccer players.
Bax EA, Colyn W, Bellemans J, Weinans H, Agricola R, Boel F. Tibial genu varum and primary cam morphology in healthy young adults: A cross-sectional study uncovering the double threat to joint health.. 2026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocarto.2026.100803
Paper 8 finds that higher sports activity is significantly associated with increased tibial genu varum (bow legs).
Işın A, Köse Ö, Ak E, Emir Yetim E, Çevikol C, Melekoğlu T. The influence of the lower limb components on genu varum in football players: a full leg length magnetic resonance imaging study.. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-025-01075-9
Paper 10 evaluates lower extremity alignment and finds notable genu varum (bow legs) in football players resulting from athletic structural adaptations.
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