Table 1 Kinesthesia, balance, and strengthening exercise program with its phases

Stage 1 (3 weeks)

1. Modified Romberg exercise (standing in balance with eyes closed)

a. On hard ground

b. On soft ground

2. Retro walking (25 m)

3. Walking on heels (25 m)

4. Walking on toes (25 m)

5. Walking with eyes closed (25 m)

6. Standing on one extremity for 30 s

(repeated in both extremities)

▪ Leaning forwards, backwards, and sideways on one extremity (eyes open)

▪ Leaning forwards, backwards, and sideways on one extremity (eyes closed)

▪ Sitting down and standing up from a high chair slowly

Stage 2 (3 weeks)

Stage 1 exercises plus the following:

1. Exercise with a balance board

2. Sitting down and standing up from a low chair slowly

3. Plyometric exercise (crossing a height of 15 cm by jumping)

4. a. Walking slowly, wide circle (D:120 cm)

b. Walking quickly, wide circle (D:120 cm)

c. Walking slowly, narrow circle (D:45 cm)

d. Walking quickly, narrow circle (D:45 cm)

Strengthening exercise program (3 times per week for 6 weeks)

Stage 1 (2 weeks)

1. 5-min fixed bike exercise without resistance

2. ROM exercise

3. Quadriceps muscle isometric strengthening exercise

4. Hamstring muscle isometric strengthening exercise

Isometric exercises: 8 repetitions of 6-s maximum isometric voluntary contraction with 2-s rest

Stage 2 (2 weeks)

Stage 1 exercises plus the following:

1. Short-arc terminal extension exercise with weight for the knee joint

2. Isometric exercise for the adductor muscles of the hip joint

3. Isometric exercise for the abductor muscles of the hip joint

Isotonic exercises: short arc extension of the knee with a step placed as support. Applied as 10 repetitions with one third weight of the 10-RM, 10 repetitions with two thirds weight of the 10 RM, and 10 repetitions with the full weight of the 10-RM

Stage 3 (2 weeks)

Stage 1 and 2 exercises plus the following:

1. Short-arc terminal extension exercise with resistance for the knee joint

2. Isometric exercise with resistance for the hamstring muscles

Isotonic exercises: against the resistance of a standard rubber bandage