A weight bearing strut assembly is capable of supporting the human frame in the act of walking and further enables a leg to which it is strapped to bend in a normal manner as the leg is brought forward during each step, and to lock when the leg is straightened as necessary to shift weight thereupon. The strut assembly includes a braking mechanism activated as load is placed upon the strut assembly, and an urging mechanism which is activated when the load is removed, and the strut assembly is bent but moving toward the straight leg attitude. Under these conditions, the urging mechanism drives the strut assembly quickly into a co-linear arrangement so as to assure that the strut assembly is ready to take a compressive load.