Viktbärande

Viktbärande is a Swedish adjective meaning capable of bearing weight. It is used across fields to describe objects, structures, or tissues that can carry vertical loads or support other loads. The term is common in engineering, architecture, medicine, and biomechanics.

In medical contexts, viktbärande describes a patient’s ability to place weight on a limb during rehabilitation. Weight-bearing status is used to guide treatment progression and may be described as non-weight-bearing (NWB), touch-down or toe-touch weight-bearing, partial weight-bearing (PWB), weight-bearing as tolerated (WBAT), or full weight-bearing (FWB). Clinicians assess pain, swelling, alignment, and imaging to determine when to advance weight bearing. Assistive devices such as crutches or walkers are often used to control loading and protect healing tissues.

In construction and architecture, viktbärande refers to elements that transfer loads to the foundation. Bearing walls, columns, and beams are designed to carry vertical loads, while non-load-bearing partitions do not carry structural weight. The term emphasizes the presence of load paths, material strength, and compliance with building codes and safety factors.

In biomechanics, the concept is applied to joints, implants, and prosthetics during standing and movement, where devices must withstand and distribute body weight without failure.