Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: Ballistic Strength Training in Stroke: A Phase II Randomized, Controlled, Assessor Blinded Pilot Study
Brief Summary: This pilot study intends to evaluate whether stroke patients can complete ballistic strength exercises for thirty minutes, three times per week over a six week training period in addition to their existing rehabilitation program.

It will evaluate whether using ballistic training principles, is superior in improving mobility compared with usual care exercises to improve mobility and leg strength in stroke patients.

In this study there will be 15 participants per group, a total of 30 participants. The control group will receive usual care consistent with existing rehabilitation practice and literature. The experimental group will perform task specific strength training in a ballistic fashion.


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

* Inpatient at Caulfield Hospital Neurological Rehabilitation Unit at the time of recruitment
* Diagnosis of first stroke
* Presence of lower limb weakness determined by \>10% difference in knee extensor strength between sides
* Functional Ambulation Category (FAC) \> 3
* Can walk a minimal distance of 14 metres (to allow measurement on a 10metre walk test (10MWT)

Participants who meet all the inclusion criteria except for their FAC score will have their FAC score re-measured on a weekly basis until they reach a score of greater than or equal to 3, at which point they become eligible and will be approached for recruitment.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Unable to provide informed consent (determined by consultation with rehabilitation consultant and the team neuropsychologist)
* Other diagnosed central nervous system disorder affecting mobility
* Active oncological diagnosis
* Unstable medication condition such as unstable diabetes or unstable cardiac condition that would prevent participation in cardiovascular activity
* Recent orthopaedic trauma and/or osteoarthritis that would limit participation in physical exercise
* Not willing to continue to attend the program if they discharge home before the end of the six week program
B: Inclusion Criteria:

* patients with hemiplegia following a first unilateral stroke
* will score at least level 3 on the Functional Ambulation Category (FAC) (able to walk unaided on even ground but requiring verbal prompts and stand-by help without body contact)
* must have been independent walkers prior to insult without walking aids
* Subjects will have a Mini Mental State score of 22 or above

Exclusion Criteria:

* orthopaedic or other neurological conditions that could limit walking ability
* no gross visuospatial or visual field deficits
* no medical contraindications to walking
C: Inclusion Criteria:

* Sedentary
* Overweight or obese (BMI\>25kg/m2)
* Post menopausal
* Previous diagnosis of impaired glucose tolerance

Exclusion Criteria:

* Regular purposeful exercise (≥150 minutes of MVPA per week)
* Physical condition which limits full participation in the study
* Active psychotic illness or other significant illness which, in the view of the investigators, would prevent full participation
* Inability to communicate in spoken English
* Steroid use
* Known Type 2 Diabetes
* Pregnancy
* Male
* Currently taking hormone replacement medication.
D: The inclusion criteria will be as follows:

1. patients with a first time intracerebral (either cortical or subcortical) hemorrhage with unilateral hemiparesis/ hemiplegia confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography;
2. patients with no contraindications to being mobilized (early intervention) within 24 hours of stroke onset (based on the medical team's clinical judgment: including systolic blood pressure (SBP)\<160mmHg in resting; resting heart rate (HR)\<130 bpm; no hydrocephalus; 80\< mean arterial pressure (MAP)\<110 mmHg before intervention);
3. patients with National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores at admission ranging from 1 to 20;
4. patients with total activity of living independence pre-stroke; and
5. patients between 20 and 80 years old.

The exclusion criteria will be as follows:

1. patients with mild to moderate deficits as described above (3);
2. patients who are unable to complete the baseline survey because of serious aphasia, language difficulties, or cognitive deficits;
3. patients with other medical conditions, such as severe heart failure, acute coronary syndrome, or lower-limb disorders, that prevent early mobilization; and
4. patients who are unable to provide informed consent. In addition, we will exclude those showing rapid early deterioration of symptoms, as well as those with a concurrent diagnosis of rapidly deteriorating disease (e.g., terminal cancer).

Answer: A