Improving muscle strength after stroke

INTERVENTION: Intervention1: Individualized homeopathic medicines in centesimal potencies plus standard care: Intervention is planned as administering the indicated homeopathic medicines in centesimal potencies (CH) along with standard care. Each dose will consist of 4 cane sugar globules no. 40, moistened with the indicated medicine (preserved in 90% v/v ethanol), to be taken orally on a clean tongue with empty stomach; dosage and repetition depending upon the individual requirement of the cases. Patients will be advised to refrain from handling the globules or from eating, drinking, smoking or brushing their teeth within 30 minutes of taking the globules and will be asked to suck the globules rather than simply swallowing those. All the medicines and sundry items will be procured from a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certified firm. All the enrolled patients of both groups will receive standard care in terms of pharmacotherapy (anti‐hypertensive drugs, blood thinners, lipid‐lowering agents etc. as applicable) in personalized doses as recommended by the Consultant Neurologist/Medicine Specialist. Both groups will be instructed regrading the exercises, like shoulder flexion and extension, shoulder abduction, elbow extension, elbow supination and pronation, including basic lower limb exercises, like inner range quads, hamstring stretch, bridging, knee rolling etc. under the guidance of a trained physiotherapist. Duration of treatment: 3 months. Control Intervention1: Identical‐looking placebos plus standard care: This group will receive placebos, identical in appearance with that of verum, plus standard care. Each dose will consist of 4 cane sugar globules no. 40 moistened with 90% v/v ethanol, to be taken orally on a clean tongue with empty stomach; dosage and repetition depending CONDITION: Health Condition 1: I693‐ Sequelae of cerebral infarction PRIMARY OUTCOME: The Medical Research Council (MRC) Scale for Grading Muscle StrengthTimepoint: Every month, up to 3 months ; SECONDARY OUTCOME: Barthel IndexTimepoint: Every month, up to 3 months Measure Yourself Medical Outcome Profile(MYMOP‐2)Timepoint: Every month, up to 3 months Stroke Impact Scale‐16 Version 3.0Timepoint: Every month, up to 3 months ; INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Patients suffering from post‐stroke hemiparesis (ICD 10 ‐ I69.354) for 3 months or more with MRC score between 1 and 4. 2. Age between 30 and 70 years 3. Patients of both sexes including transgender 4. Literate patients; ability to read English, Bengali or Hindi and illiterate people will be interviewed by the investigators maintaining adequate privacy to fill up the scales or questionnaires 5. Willing to take part in the study and give written informed consent voluntarily.