Weight-Bearing Status Explained: NWB, Toe-Touch, Partial & Full

Your weight-bearing status is the rule your surgeon sets for how much of your body weight you may put on the injured leg or foot while it heals. It is usually written as an abbreviation on your discharge papers (NWB, TTWB, PWB, WBAT, or FWB), and getting it right matters because each level uses crutches differently. Here is what each one means in plain English.

This page explains the terms. It does not tell you which status you have or when it changes: your surgeon and physical therapist decide that. If your paperwork is unclear, call the office and confirm before you move around.

Non-weight-bearing (NWB)

Non-weight-bearing means zero weight on the injured leg or foot, not even resting it down for balance. Your arms and your good leg do all the work. It is common after foot, ankle, and some knee procedures, and it is the most demanding status to live with because every step loads your hands, wrists, and shoulders.

For the gait, the stairs method, and how to set up your home for it, see non-weight-bearing on crutches.

Toe-touch weight bearing (TTWB)

Toe-touch weight bearing, also called touch-down weight bearing, means the foot or toes may rest on the floor for balance, but you place almost no weight through the leg. A common way clinicians describe it: enough pressure to feel the floor, not enough to crack an egg under your foot.

The touch is for stability, not support. The leg is still essentially unloaded, so the crutch technique is close to non-weight-bearing. TTWB is a distinct order from both NWB and partial weight bearing, so confirm which one is written on your papers.

Partial weight bearing (PWB)

Partial weight bearing means you may put a limited, specific amount of weight on the leg. It is often described as a percentage of your body weight (for example 25%, 50%, or 75%) or as a feel your physical therapist coaches you to find. A bathroom scale is sometimes used in therapy to teach what the allowed amount feels like.

Because the leg shares the load, the crutch gait differs from NWB and TTWB. Your physical therapist shows you the amount and the technique; the number on your order is the ceiling, not a target to chase.

Weight bearing as tolerated (WBAT)

Weight bearing as tolerated means you may put as much weight as is comfortable on the leg, letting your own tolerance set the limit instead of a fixed percentage. Pain and swelling are the signals. Many people use crutches or a cane at first under WBAT and lean on them less as comfort returns.

“Tolerated” is defined by your surgeon for your specific case, so ask what it means for you if the order is not spelled out.

Full weight bearing (FWB)

Full weight bearing means there is no restriction on how much weight you place on the leg. You can stand and walk normally as far as the injury allows. Some people still keep one crutch or a cane for balance and confidence while strength and steadiness return, which is normal and something your physical therapist can advise on.

Weight-bearing restrictions and why they exist

These statuses are weight-bearing restrictions: limits that protect healing bone, repaired tissue, or hardware while it sets. The status often steps down over the recovery (for example NWB to PWB to FWB), but only your surgeon decides the timeline and each change, based on imaging and how you are healing. This page never tells you to progress; it only defines the words on your order.

The status you are given drives which mobility aid fits your weeks ahead. To match your status and situation to a setup, take the quiz. If you have a condition that means longer-term or repeated crutch use, the best crutches for multiple sclerosis (MS) guide covers durable, full-time options.

Recovery guides by status

• New to the motion: how to walk with crutches and how to use crutches.
• Stairs, the riskiest part: how to use crutches on stairs.
• Zero weight allowed: non-weight-bearing on crutches.
• Recovering from a specific injury: crutches after surgery and crutches after a broken foot or ankle.
• Tired hands over a long recovery: knee scooter vs. crutches.

This is general information, not medical advice. Your weight-bearing status and any change to it are set by your surgeon and physical therapist, not by this page. Follow their instructions exactly, and call their office if your order is unclear.