Which weight-bearing status corresponds to a transfer requiring a 1-person assist standing and pivot transfer with a gait belt if cooperative?

• A. Full weight bearing
• B. Partial weight bearing
• C. Non-weight bearing
• D. Toe-touch weight bearing

Answer: (B)

Weight-bearing status guides how much weight a patient can place through a limb during movement and, in turn, how much help they need for a transfer. When a transfer is done with a gait belt and a single caregiver standing in front to guide and pivot the patient, the patient must be able to bear some weight but not necessarily full weight. That situation is partial weight bearing. The caregiver can help the patient shift weight onto the leg and control the pivot while the patient remains cooperative, using the belt to stabilize and prevent fall or twisting. If the patient could bear full weight, they might transfer with less dependence or with different staffing, but the described setup specifically aligns with partial weight bearing because it relies on the patient contributing some weight while being safely guided through the transfer. If the patient were non-weight bearing or only toe-touch weight bearing, they wouldn’t be able to support themselves enough to perform a standing pivot with a single helper, and another form of transfer or additional assistance would be needed.