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Within the first week post-stroke, getting out of bed and walking over a short distance, even with assistance, was a strong predictor of discharge home. Most of the improvement in measures of impairment and disability occurred during the first month and, by 3 months, there was still considerable room for improvement in all measures: 85% of persons were still impaired on gait speed, 78% had not reached age-specific norms for upper extremity function, 68% still demonstrated slow physical mobility, 37% needed some assistance with basic activities of daily living and 29% were still impaired on balance. By 1 year, 73% of persons scored the maximum for basic activities of daily living but 51 and 67% of persons reported their physical health and mental health to be lower than expected. Among a hardy group of stroke survivors, still living in the community 1 year post-stroke, the most striking area of difficulty was endurance, as measured by the 6 minute walk test. Those subjects well enough to complete this task (50% of sample) were able to walk, on average, only 250 metres, equivalent to 40% of their predicted ability. This series of snapshots taken at different points in time suggests that much of the improvement in impairment and disability occurs during the first month and then reaches a plateau. Handicap and quality of life continue to be issues later. Rehabilitation strategies need to consider the multifaceted nature of disablement, which in itself changes with time post-stroke.

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