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:

* Diagnosis of stroke according to WHO's definition of stroke
* Living in the city of Trondheim or the municipalities of Asker or Bærum
* Included 2.5 - 4 months after stroke
* Modified Rankin Scale 0 - 4
* Living at home
* Mini Mental State Examination \> 20 or \> 16 if aphasia
* Provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* Are already included in the study
* Are included in other experimental studies
* Unstable coronary function
* Uncompensated heartfailure
* Other diseases that make it difficult to complete the intervention
C: Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients of Los Angeles County+University of Southern California (LAC-USC), Rancho Los Amigos, Olive View-University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), or Harbor-UCLA
* Transient ischemic attack (TIA), ischemic stroke or hemorrhagic stroke within the prior 90 days
* English, Spanish, Korean, Mandarin or Cantonese-speaking
* 40 years of age or older
* Capable of giving informed consent (no proxies will be used to obtain consent)
* Systolic blood pressure is 130 mm Hg or greater OR Systolic blood pressure is between 120 mm Hg and 130 mm Hg and there is diagnosed/treated hypertension prior to the stroke or TIA

Exclusion Criteria:

* Younger than 40 years
* Systolic Blood Pressure less than 120 mm Hg OR systolic blood pressure is between 120 mm Hg and 130 mm Hg and there is no known history of hypertension prior to the stroke or TIA
* Speaks language other than English, Spanish, Korean, Mandarin, and Cantonese
* Inability to comprehend the study because of communication or cognitive impairments
D: Inclusion Criteria:

* Ability to understand Swedish language.
* Ability to walk 5 meters with or without the support of any means or person.
* Be able to get up on a cycle ergometer and cycle in their own chosen pace.
* Approval of medically responsible physician to conduct physical training in groups.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Medical or neurological diseases that may affect the exercise execution.
* Patients for whom transportation to and from hospital can not be arranged during intervention period

Answer: A