Non-Weight-Bearing on Crutches: How to Get Around Safely

“Non-weight-bearing” (NWB) means your surgeon wants zero weight on the injured foot or leg, not even resting it down for balance. It’s common after foot, ankle, and some knee surgeries, and it’s the hardest weight-bearing status to live with because your arms do all the work. Here’s how to manage it.

The non-weight-bearing gait (swing-through)

1. Place both crutch tips a step ahead of you.
2. Press down through your hands on the grips.
3. Swing your good leg forward to land just behind the crutch tips, keeping the injured leg lifted the whole time.
4. Move the crutches ahead again and repeat.

Keep steps short and controlled. The injured leg stays off the ground completely. If you’re new to the motion, walk through the basics first in how to use crutches.

Stairs when you can’t touch down

This is where NWB gets risky. Going up: good leg first, then bring the crutches up. Going down: crutches down first, then hop the good leg down. Use a handrail and tuck both crutches under one arm if you can. Full method: how to use crutches on stairs.

Getting around the house

• Clear your paths. Rugs, cords, and clutter are fall hazards when you’re balancing on two points.
• Set up stations. Keep what you need at counter height so you’re not carrying things (both hands are busy).
• Use a backpack to move items between rooms.
• Sit to do tasks in the kitchen and bathroom; a shower chair is worth it.

NWB is exhausting, so the right equipment matters

Weeks of swinging your full body weight through your hands is tiring and hard on the wrists. Two things help:

• A comfortable, well-built pair of crutches. Ergonomic grips and good cuffs prevent the hand pain that makes people dread moving. See crutches that don’t hurt your hands and our best forearm crutches picks.
• A knee scooter for distance. Many people pair crutches (for stairs, bathrooms, tight spaces) with a knee scooter (for errands and longer distances). See knee scooter vs. crutches.

Recovering from a specific injury? Read crutches after a broken foot or ankle or crutches after surgery, and take the quiz to find a match for NWB use.

This is general information, not medical advice. Follow your surgeon’s weight-bearing instructions exactly, they decide when you can put weight down, not this page.