HealthInfo Canterbury
Non-weight-bearing
Kua kore e kawe taumaha
Because of your injury, your doctor has asked that you remain non-weight-bearing on the affected leg for a time to allow it to heal.
This means that you can't put any body weight on that leg and will need to hop, with the support of a mobility aid.
It's very important to follow this advice, as putting any weight on your leg can mean you don't recover well. You may even need another operation to fix problems caused by putting weight on your leg too soon.
The physiotherapist will help you to move safely and will advise you about how this will affect your lifestyle.
At first, it's important for you to raise your leg to control swelling, decrease pain and encourage wound healing. This can be done lying on a bed, couch or chair with your leg raised.
Stairs and steps
Make sure that you take the stairs slowly.
If you feel nervous, have someone stand close by.
Remember that the crutches always stay with the sore leg.
- When going downstairs: crutches – sore leg – good leg.
- When going upstairs: good leg – crutches – sore leg.
Exercises
To make sure you heal as well as possible, it's important to keep your leg muscles strong while you're non-weight-bearing.
This is so that when your doctor tells you to begin weight bearing, your muscles are ready and can adjust quickly.
Do these exercises four times day, repeating each exercise 10 times. These exercises may be a bit uncomfortable, but if you get any specific pain, you should stop the exercise.
Static quad
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Wedge quads
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Straight leg lift
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Hamstrings
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Buttocks
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Side leg muscles
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Calf stretch
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Rehabilitation
As your injury heals, your doctor will tell you when you can put weight on your leg again. Please ask the staff at the clinic for advice about these changes.
The medical staff may refer you to physiotherapy to help with your rehabilitation.
If you have any problems with getting full movement back, difficulty with walking, running, cycling or on-going weakness, then physiotherapy will help.
If you feel you would benefit from physiotherapy, make an appointment to see a physiotherapist. You don't need a referral to see a private physiotherapist. But you'll need a doctor's referral for treatment at the Christchurch Hospital Physiotherapy Department.
Equipment
If you see a hospital physiotherapist, any equipment they provide is supplied for six weeks. After this, ACC is responsible for providing any necessary equipment. Contact your ACC case manager if you need equipment after the first six weeks.
Wheelchairs and scooters
The hospital doesn't provide mobility aids like wheelchairs or knee scooters for your personal use. If you need one for any reason (short or long-term) you can hire them from:
- Nurse Maude Health and Mobility shop – Phone (03) 375-4200 and ask for the Health and Mobility shop.
- Aspire Canterbury – Phone (03) 366-6189.
- More Mobility – Phone (03) 348-3460.
Wheelchairs are available in all shopping malls for your use while shopping. Check at the mall's information service desk.
Total Mobility discounted taxi fare scheme
The Total Mobility discounted taxi fare scheme provides a discount of usually 50% off the normal fare of approved taxi companies.
Written by Physiotherapy Department, Christchurch Hospital. Adapted by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed February 2022.
SourcesReview key: HILWI-174362
