Why do many old sailors walk bow-legged?

Question

I used to think this was joke until I saw the naval veterans at a remembrance parade a few years back; some really do walk bow-legged- why is this?

Thanks!

Answer 1

you mention remembrance day ( we call it Memorial Day over on this side of the pond) so I assume you're a Brit...

and I laughed at all the scurvy answers..folks this isn't the 700's and while sailors diets aren't great, Merchant and RN sailors got balanced food from about the 30's onward...

the answer is combination of spending years in tight spaces doing maintenance and more importantly, walking and keeping balance on heaving rolling pitching ship...you are always braced at funny angles and walking with wide short steps to stay upright......

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

I don't agree with the idea that diet has anything to do with it. Scurvy may have been prevalent in the 1600's, but I don't think this parade would have folks that old. I do know that many sailors have bad knees due to the fact that scrubbing steel decks on your knees takes its toll. Maintenance guys on ships had it especially bad since everything is in close quarters and requires climbing on and in steel structures. The movie "The Sand Pebbles" with Steve McQueen demonstates what conditions are like in an engine room.
That's about all I can figure, unless those Navy vets were actually Army cavalry vets.

Answer 4

What you have observed is a Thiamin deficiency. B1. More than likely these individuals had a diet that DID NOT include: Green peas, Spinach, Liver, Beef, Pork, Navy beans, Nuts, Pinto beans, Bananas, Soybeans, Whole-grain and Enriched Cereals, Breads, Yeast,the aleurone layer of unpolished rice, and Legumes.

That condition is known as ricketts. It can also be brought about because of the lack of vitamin D, but only if these individuals were NOT caucasian, or not outside in the sun. Caucasians have the ability to process Vitamin D through their skin, via sunlight. Cool, huh?

Answer 5

It's because being away on a ship for months meant their diet was vitamin deficient. Sailors would often get rickets (which can make you bowlegged) due to a lack of Vitamin D (found in dairy products). They often also had scurvy (which makes your teeth fall out) due to a lack of vitamin C from not getting any citrus fruits.

If you check the first link I have supplied, it states that bones are weakened by a diet deficient in Vitamin D, calcium and magnesium.

Answer 6

Initially this was due to a poor diet, and the resulting disease on board ships. For some it is the habit of walking while on board a ship (sea legs).

Answer 7

It was caused through wind, there diet was very much like eating curry, they were releasing a lot of wind nearly all day long which caused damp pants, this was why they walked bow legged.
Hope this helps answer your question.

Answer 8

Have you ever tried to stand upright with your legs close together on a moving ship? Chances are they spent their lives walking like that on board to keep their balance?

Take no notice of anyone that tells you it was because of taking `their turn in the barrel`!

Answer 9

Have you ever heard the saying

" hello sailor"

I will think I will let you make your own mind up on the answer
WINK WINK

Answer 10

solid ONE certainly a female is going to her wellbeing practitioner complaining that she is exhausted all of the time. After the diagnostic tests confirmed not something, the wellbeing practitioner gets around to asking her how frequently she has intercourse. "each Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday," she says. The wellbeing practitioner advises her to cut back out Wednesday. "i won't be in a position to," says the female. "it is the only evening i'm domicile with my husband."