Weightbearing Status

Weight bearing is an important component to your healing fracture or injury. If you put weight on your extremity too soon, the fixation (plates/screws) could loosen and cause your fracture to shift or move. It is crucial you listen to your surgeon regarding weight bearing recommendations.

After surgery your weight bearing status is determined by your surgeon. For a significant portion of lower extremity and upper extremity fractures, this will be a non-weightbearing or touch-down weight bearing status. Usually this is continued for 6-10 weeks before you are allowed to start weightbearing.

Weightbearing as tolerated (WBAT)

This means that you can put as much weight as you can tolerated through your arm or leg. The key is AS TOLERATED. You should not push through the pain and use your pain as a guide. Often times you will have a brace to provide increased stability.

Partial Weightbearing (PWB)

This status allows you to put some weight through your leg. Usually it is a percentage of full body weight. For example, 50% partial weight bearing means you can stand with both feet on the floor. It is important you do not increase the amount of weight above what you are told to do.

Touchdown Weightbearing (TDWB)

This allows you to use your leg to help balance but does not allow you to put weight on your leg. It is often used with fractures higher up in the leg (hip or pelvis) to decrease the strain on the muscles around the hip.

Non-weightbearing (NWB)

You are not allowed to put any weight on your leg or arm. This is usually used when the fixation (i.e. plates and screws) can not hold up to repetitive stress of walking or lifting. The bone must be allowed to heal some before you can do more.