A stroke can damage the brain's "brakes" that normally tell your muscles to relax. Without these calming signals, your muscles stay continuously tight and clenched on the side affected by the stroke. This muscle stiffness causes noticeable posture changes. In the arm, it often leads to a tight fist, bent wrist, or an elbow pulled close to the chest. In the leg, it can cause a stiff knee or a foot turned downward, making walking difficult. Over time, this constant tightness ca

Immediate presentation to an emergency department upon symptom onset is imperative. Intravenous thrombolysis (IV tPA) must be initiated within 4.5 hours for cute ischemaic events, whereas endovascular mechanical thrombectomy remains viable for up to 24 hours in large vessel occlusions. Diagnostic neuro-imaging—utilizing non-contrast Computed Tomography (CT) or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)—is required to distinguish acute ischemic infarction from intracranial hemorrhage, a