Partial weight bearing is defined as:

• A. Full weight bearing
• B. No weight bearing on involved extremity
• C. Partial weight bearing—allows a certain amount of weight on the involved extremity
• D. Toe touch only

Answer: (C)

Partial weight bearing means you place only a defined, limited amount of your body weight on the injured leg, as prescribed by the clinician. It sits between no weight bearing and full weight bearing, using assistive devices like crutches or a walker to control how much weight is transferred. Clinicians often specify a percentage of body weight or a fixed pound amount (for example, 25%, 50%, or a set number of pounds) and you progress toward full weight bearing as healing allows. This is different from full weight bearing, which uses all the body’s weight on the limb; no weight bearing, which means zero weight on the limb; and toe touch only, which means the foot merely touches the ground for balance with essentially no weight transmitted through the leg.