<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2017-11-01</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000785161</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HEALTHSOUTH CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HLS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001135567</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CURL YVONNE M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>17 LEAMINGTON LANE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HILTON HEAD ISLAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>SC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>29928</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Healthsouth Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-11-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>45.95</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>64144</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This per share price is a weighted average price. These shares were purchased in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $45.89 to $46.01, inclusive. The reporting person undertakes to provide to HealthSouth Corporation, any of its security holders, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares purchased at each separate price within this range.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Patrick Darby, attorney-in-fact for Yvonne M. Curl</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-11-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
