Final answer:
The term WBAT stands for Weight-Bearing As Tolerated and indicates that the patient is allowed to bear weight on their left lower extremity as much as they comfortably can without excessive discomfort. The correct action is to continue with weight-bearing as tolerated on the left lower extremity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question refers to a prescription that uses the term WBAT, which stands for Weight-Bearing As Tolerated on the left lower extremity (L LE). When a medical doctor (MD) prescribes WBAT, it means the patient is allowed to put as much weight on the affected limb (left lower extremity, in this case) as they can tolerate without experiencing excessive pain or discomfort.
Therefore, the correct action following the prescription would be: a. Continue with weight-bearing as tolerated on the left lower extremity. This entails gradually increasing the amount of weight put on the left lower extremity as pain permits. This approach is used to promote healing while also ensuring the patient does not overexert themselves, which could potentially worsen the condition or delay recovery.
The other options such as avoiding weight-bearing, performing weight-bearing exercises on both lower extremities, or restricting movement on the left lower extremity are not consistent with a WBAT prescription. Thus, they would not be appropriate actions to take immediately after receiving such a prescription unless additional instructions were provided by the healthcare professional.