Purpose: This retrospective study investigated the association between idiopathic bilateral symmetric genu valgum and posterior calf tightness in symptomatic soldiers and evaluated the efficacy of a home-based Achilles stretching program.Methods: Consecutive soldiers who presented with reduced sports performance, ankle discomfort, and limited ankle dorsiflexion between May 2023 and January 2024 were retrospectively reviewed.Among 110 screened patients, 69 met the inclusion criteria for idiopathic bilateral symmetric genu valgum with adequate follow-up.Lower-limb alignment was assessed on standing long-leg radiographs using the hip-knee-ankle axis, and clinical outcomes were evaluated using ankle dorsiflexion angles and the Oxford Ankle Foot Questionnaire for Children (OxAFQ-C).Results: Among the 69 included patients, 32 had clinically documented Achilles tendon tightness and 13 had gastrocnemius tightness.In the stretching group, physical symptom and activity-related OxAFQ-C scores improved, and ankle dorsiflexion increased during follow-up, whereas the non-stretching group showed no significant interval change.Conclusion: These findings suggest that a structured Achilles stretching program may be a useful conservative treatment in symptomatic soldiers with idiopathic genu valgum and associated posterior calf tightness.
Jung et al. (Mon,) studied this question.