Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: Strength Training Effectiveness Post-Stroke (STEPS)
Brief Summary: The purpose of this study is to determine if treadmill training with body weight-support (BWST) is more effective at improving walking in individuals post-stroke than a resisted leg-cycling exercise program. In addition, we want to determine if training programs that combine leg strength training to treadmill walking provide an additional benefit to post-stroke walking outcomes.


Options:
A: Study population: Subjects with a diagnosis of stroke

Inclusion Criteria:

* first stroke (\<6 months ago)
* presence of hemiparesis in the lower extremity
* minimum Berg Balance Score (BBS) of 30/56
* cognitive ability to give informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* bilateral stroke, or a previous stroke in the other hemisphere
* severe co-morbidity that is likely to dominate the pattern of care
* co-existing peripheral neuropathies or disorders of the vestibular apparatus
* musculoskeletal problems
* global aphasia or receptive aphasia
B: Inclusion Criteria:

* age 18 years or older
* 4 months to 5 years after first-time onset of a ischemic or hemorrhagic cerebrovascular accident (CVA) confirmed by CT, MRI, or clinical criteria
* able to ambulate at least 14 meters with assistive and/or orthotic device and one person assist (minimum Functional Ambulation Classification Level II
* self-selected walking velocity of ≤1.0 meters/second
* approval of primary care physician to participate.

Exclusion Criteria:

* resting systolic blood pressure greater than 180mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure greater than 110mmHg and/or resting heart rate greater than 100 beats/minute;
* lower limb orthopedic conditions such as prior joint replacement or range of motion limitations;
* spasticity management that included Botox injection (\< 4 months earlier) or phenol block injection (\< 12 months earlier) to affected lower extremity and intrathecal Baclofen or oral Baclofen (within past 30 days);
* Mini-Mental State Exam score \< 24;
* currently receiving lower extremity strengthening exercises or gait training,
* past participation in any study examining the effects of long term (\>4 weeks training) body weight support treadmill training; limb loaded pedaling, or lower extremity strengthening;
* plans to move out of the area in the next year,
* no transportation to the study site for all evaluations and intervention sessions.
C: Inclusion Criteria:

* Have acute ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke within the preceding twenty-four months, defined as "a rapid onset event of vascular origin reflecting a focal disturbance of cerebral function, excluding isolated impairments of higher function and persisting longer than 24 hours";
* age between 45-90;
* discharge to the community;
* cognitively intact (score of 6/10 or greater on the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire);
* discharge motor Functional Independence Measure (FIM) score of 17-88 (i.e., maximal assistance on no more than 4 motor activities of daily living (ADLs) as the most severe stroke included and modified independence at least 2 motor ADLs as the least severe); able to follow 3-step command; signed VHA Medical Media release form; concurrence by the patient's physician;
* and informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

Unable to provide informed consent
D: Inclusion Criteria:

* Age \>/=18
* Stroke within 45-days
* Residual paresis in the lower extremity (fugl-meyer le motor score \< 34)
* Ability to sit unsupported for 30 seconds
* Ability to walk at least 10 feet with maximum 1 person assist
* Ability to follow a three step command
* Provision of informed consent
* A self-selected 10 meter gait speed less than 0.8 m/s at the 2-month post-stroke assessment
* Successful completion of an exercise tolerance test

Exclusion Criteria:

* Lived in nursing home prior to stroke
* Unable to ambulate at least 150 feet prior to stroke, or experienced intermittent claudication while walking less than 200 meters
* Serious cardiac conditions (history of congestive heart failure, documented serious and unstable cardiac arrhythmias, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, severe aortic stenosis, angina or dyspnea at rest or during activities of daily living). Anyone meeting New York Heart Association criteria for Class 3 or Class 4 heart disease will be excluded
* History of serious chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or oxygen dependence
* Severe weight bearing pain
* Preexisting neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), dementia, or previous stroke with residual neurological deficits
* History of major head trauma
* Lower extremity amputation
* Non-healing ulcers on the lower extremity
* Renal dialysis or end stage liver disease
* Legal blindness or severe visual impairment
* A history of significant psychiatric illness defined by diagnosis of bipolar affective disorder, psychosis, schizophrenia or medication refractory depression
* Life expectancy less than one year
* Severe arthritis or orthopedic problems that limit passive ranges of motion of lower extremity (knee flexion contracture of -10°, knee flexion Range of Motion (ROM) \< 90°, hip flexion contracture \> 25°, and ankle plantar flexion contracture \> 15°
* History of sustained alcoholism or drug abuse in the last six months
* Major post-stroke depression as measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire(PHQ-9 \>/= 10) that is not medically managed with antidepressant medication and/or psychotherapy
* History of pulmonary embolism within 6 months
* Uncontrollable diabetes with recent weight loss, diabetic coma, or frequent insulin reactions
* Severe hypertension with systolic greater than 200 mmHg and diastolic greater than 110 mmHg at rest,
* Previous or current enrollment in a clinical trial to enhance stroke motor recovery
* Lives more than 50 miles from the training sites
* Unable to travel 3 times per week for outpatient training programs
* Intracranial hemorrhage related to aneurysmal rupture or an arteriovenous malformation (hemorrhagic infarctions will not be excluded)

Inclusion and exclusion criteria will be determined by a chart review, depression screen and subject interview by study physician or study coordinator. After initial chart and subject interview, each subject's treating physician will be asked to review inclusion and exclusion criteria and provide a letter supporting inclusion in the study. All subjects who meet selection criteria must successfully complete an exercise tolerance test

Answer: B