What Does FWB Mean in Medical Terms?

FWB stands for full weight-bearing. Putting full body weight through a limb.

Where you will see FWB

You will most often see FWB in orthopaedic and physiotherapy notes, nursing notes, care plans and handovers.

Example

A chart note might use “FWB” as shorthand for full weight-bearing when documenting a patient's care.

Related abbreviations

• 1:1 — one-to-one observation
• 2g Na diet — two-gram sodium diet
• 4-point restraints — four-point restraints
• 90-90 traction — ninety-ninety traction (femur)
• A&O — alert and oriented
• A&O x4 — alert and oriented times four (person place time situation)
• A-line — A-line (arterial line shorthand)
• a.c. — ante cibum (before meals)

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