The symptoms of stroke include a sudden onset of numbness or weakness, usually one-sided, sudden confusion or speech difficulty (articulating and understanding), sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes, sudden trouble with walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, or sudden severe headache with no apparent cause.

The prognosis depends on the part of the brain affected, how severe the stroke and the general health of the patient. The most common disability is a complete paralysis (hemiplegia); not so debilitating is a one-sided weakness called hemiparesis. Survivors also often have emotional problems and depression. Many will also experience numbness or strange sensations (Dysesthesia) that may present as severe pain. Pain may also arise through excessive hypertonia (spasticity) and limbs fixed in an abnormal position around a joint. Pressure ulcers are common in post-stroke patients, 9% in all hospitalised patients and 23% in patients residing in a nursing home.

Approximately 40% of stroke survivors are left with moderate functional impairments; 15-30% will have severe disability. More than 40% will require active rehabilitation with the intensity of the programme depending on the status of the patient and their disability level. Each patient has individual unique disabilities requiring individual tailored treatments involving a multidisciplinary team and multiple medical and often surgical interventions. Rehabilitation is initiated as early as possible, often the day after the stroke in a stable patient to help prevent long-term disability.

Patients often report that the loss of the ability to ambulate independently has one of the most frustrating and disabling impacts on their quality of life. In a 1995 study reported from Denmark at the time of admission to rehabilitation, 51% had no walking ability and a further 12% required assistance. After rehabilitation 18% had no walking ability and a further 11% required assistance. Furthermore, additional improvement could not be expected to be seen beyond 11 weeks after the stroke episode.

Loss of ambulation through hemiplegia and hemiparesis causes loss of volitional muscle control and emergence of hypertonic stretch reflexes (spasm) further aggravated by spastic hypertonia (spasticity). Thus ambulation depends on the residual function and the successful management of the emergent consequences such as spasticity that may restrict or interfere with voluntary limb movement.

Intrathecal baclofen therapy has been reported in a number of clinical articles to manage the debilitating consequences of severe spasm and spasticity as well as showing significant improvements in ambulation, often many months after the stroke.