120 patients with symptomatic medial compartment osteoarthritis and varus deformity undergoing high tibial osteotomy were included in this trial to compare between early and delayed full weight bearing during postoperative rehabilitation. Clinical and functional outcomes were assessed at 6, 12 and 18 months postoperatively. The results from this trial indicated that early full weight bearing led to accelerated functional recovery compared to delayed full weight bearing, with significant between-group differences in the improvement of Lysholm and Lequesne Index scores at 6 months. There were no significant differences in any outcome measure at 12 or 18 months between groups.