Living with a non-weight bearing precaution can feel overwhelming, especially when it comes to daily tasks like toileting. I know! I’ve broken my ankle twice now. 🙁 The limitations and challenges can test your patience and independence, but with the right techniques and adaptive equipment, navigating this situation doesn’t have to be so daunting.
I understand how tough it can be, but we’re here to help. Whether you’re adjusting to life after surgery, recovering from an injury, or supporting a loved one, I have some practical advice and suggestions to make toileting safer, easier, and more manageable. From positioning strategies to adaptive tools, I’ll help you regain some independence and confidence in your routine.
You’re not alone on this journey—let’s dive into solutions that truly make a difference. If you prefer video over a written article, you can watch this video from my YouTube Channel.
Understanding Non-Weight Bearing Precautions
Non-weight bearing means that your injured leg should not touch the ground or bear any weight. This can be difficult, especially during tasks like toileting, where stability and balance are crucial. Common mistakes, like accidentally weight bearing, can lead to setbacks or injuries, so it’s essential to approach this task with care and preparation.
Preparation for Toileting While Non-Weight Bearing
- Anticipate the Need: Avoid waiting until the last minute to use the restroom. Urgent situations increase the likelihood of errors and accidents.
- Consider Incontinence Products: For those with urgency issues or during the early stages of recovery, using incontinence pads or briefs can reduce stress and conserve energy.
Toileting Techniques for Non-Weight Bearing Individuals
OK, now that we’ve gone over a little preparation, let’s go over the two most common situations in which a person needs to use a toilet while non-weight bearing: on crutches and with a walker. I’ll describe how to approach these scenarios and then, at the end, I’ll tell you about my favorite pieces of adaptive equipment that can make both of these situations MUCH easier.
How to Use a Toilet While Non-Weight Bearing Using Crutches
First, once you reach your toilet, instead of using your crutches for balance, you are going to use a counter, grab bar, or other stable surface. A stable surface will allow your to better balance while managing your clothing.
Don’t just throw your crutches anywhere. Place them in a stable location where they won’t tip over, because you will need them again after you finish and don’t want to have to pick them up off the ground.
Once the crutches are in-place, hold onto your support surface as you lower your pants.
Keep hold of your support surface with one hand and lower yourself onto the toilet, keeping your non-weight-bearing leg elevated.
Once seated, it is typically safe to rest your non-weight bearing leg lightly on the floor, as long as no weight is placed on it.
Standing back up is a same steps, but in reverse.
However, be sure to pull-up your pants above your knees first. Doing this will prevent them from sliding down to the floor when you try to stand-up.
Use your support surface and crutches to push yourself to a standing position, ensuring your non-weight bearing leg remains elevated off the floor.
How to Use a Toilet While Non-Weight Bearing Using a Walker
Walkers are perfect for when you are non-weight bearing AND you are visiting someplace new that does not have a stable platform to use when toileting. Here’s how you go about using a walker for toileting when non-weight bearing.
Start by facing the toilet with the walker. Next, push the walker all the way back so that its front is against the toilet tank.
Now, to turn around, pivot one hand at a time using the walker as a stable support. The walker will provide two balance points for you to hold onto while you lower yourself down.
Lower yourself down onto the toilet while holding onto the walker while ensuring you keep your non-weight bearing leg elevated and off of the floor.
When finished, standing up depends on your shoulder mobility. If you have the shoulder mobility and strength, I like to use walker’s handles to push myself up. Start by placing your hands on the handles.
Then as you push up, be sure to push back as well so the walker pushes against the toilet tank. Remember to maintain air between your non-weight bearing leg and the floor.
Best-Case Scenario Setup
For even more safety and comfort, I would recommend adding the following adaptive equipment:
- Raised Toilet Seats: These reduce the distance you need to lower yourself, making transfers less strenuous.
- Safety Frames: Toilet safety frames provide sturdy grab points on either side of the toilet and can be mounted directly to the seat.
In an ideal situation, combining a raised toilet seat with safety frames offers the most ergonomic and accessible solution that can with both crutches, walkers, and others. Some models, like this one, even have handles which can fold up and out of the way for those that do not need them.
Here’s how to do a transfer with a raised toilet seat and safety frame combination although the steps are pretty much the same as crutches.
First, turn away from the toilet and again, set your crutches somewhere where they are reachable and will not tip over. Then, one hand at a time, find the rails on either side of the toilet and hold onto them for balance.
Now, lower your pants with one hand while holding onto the rails with the other. When you are ready, using both handles, lower yourself slowly onto the toilet maintaining elevation of your non-weight bearing leg off the floor the entire time. This should be substantially easier because of the install raised toilet seat. You do not have to go as far down.
After you are finished, the steps for standing up are the same, just in reverse. Remember to pull your pants up over your knees first and keep your non-weight bearing leg elevated!
Key Tips for Success for Using the Toilet When Non-Weight Bearing
- Take Your Time: Avoid rushing through the process. Slow, deliberate movements are safer and help maintain non-weight bearing precautions.
- Plan Ahead: Make sure the bathroom setup is functional and equipped with necessary tools before attempting transfers.
- Focus on Stability: Always have at least one stable support point when managing clothing or transitioning to and from the toilet.
Toileting while non-weight bearing can feel overwhelming, but with proper preparation, techniques, and adaptive equipment, it’s possible to maintain safety and independence.
Whether you’re recovering from an injury or helping a loved one, these strategies can help you approach non-weight bearing toileting with confidence and ease.
Note: This post contains affiliate links that provide a small commission without any added cost to the user.
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