Table 5. Manual muscle test: comparison over 12 weeks

Characteristics Initial right Initial left 12 weeks right 12 weeks left
Lower abdominals 3/5 4/5
Erector spinae N/A(pain) 5/5
Hip flexors 3+/5 4+/5 5/5 5/5
Hip extensors 3/5 4+/5 4+/5 5/5
Knee extensors 4/5 5/5 5/5 5/5
Knee flexors 4/5 5/5 5/5 5/5
Ankle dosiflexors 3-/5 5/5 4+/5 5/5
Ankle plantar flexors 4/5 5/5 5/5 5/5
Extensor hallucis longus 3/5 5/5 4+/5 5/5
Flexor hallucis longus 4/5 5/5 5/5 5/5
5/5, normal strength; 4+/5, able to hold against moderate to strong resistance; 4/5, able to hold against moderate resistance; 3+/5, able to hold against minimal resistance; 3/5, able to hold against gravity but not against additional minimal resistance applied manually. Abbreviation: N/A, not available.