The purpose of this review is to explore the evidence currently available and to identify the framework within which to consider bladder and bowel emptying problems following a stroke. The author was a member of the Intercollegiate Working Party for Stroke Continence Subgroup that reviewed the evidence for the National Guidelines. The review is based on the author’s personal knowledge of published and unpublished work. References in large textbooks and in the landmark papers were checked and a Medline search was performed using the terms stroke, cerebrovascular disease, incontinence and constipation.