Which muscle group is graded 4/5 in the data provided?

• A. Hip extensors
• B. Plantar flexors
• C. Toe flexors
• D. Abdominals

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is understanding what a 4/5 grade means in manual muscle testing. A 4/5 indicates good strength: the muscle can move the joint through the full range against gravity and with some resistance, but not against maximal resistance. For the hip extensors, this means the gluteus maximus and the hamstrings can extend the hip through the full motion while you apply a moderate opposing force. This level shows the hip extensors are functioning well enough to handle typical actions like standing and transferring, where hip extension is important, but they’re not yet at full maximal resistance.

The other muscle groups would require greater force to overcome resistance or may not complete the movement as effectively under the same testing conditions, which is why they wouldn’t be rated 4/5 in this data.