We can provide treatment and support if you have one of the following conditions:
- cardiovascular e.g. chronic heart disease, rehabilitation after heart attack and cardiothoracic surgeries
- neurological e.g. stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's
- musculoskeletal e.g. acute or long term joint pain, sports injuries and rheumatology conditions
- respiratory e.g. asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis
- pelvic health e.g. men and women’s pelvic health (including urinary and bowel incontinence), pre and postnatal back pain, pregnancy related pelvic girdle pain
We consider the body as a whole, rather than just focusing on the individual aspects of your injury or illness. We start with an assessment then go through your options in detail and decide on the best treatment for you.
Some of the main approaches we use are:
- education and advice to help you look after yourself
- tailored exercise and physical activities to improve your health, mobility and strengthen specific parts of your body
- hands-on therapy to help relieve pain, stiffness and encourage better movement
- information and exercise as part of a group to help you manage your condition and improve your quality of life
- If you’re staying in hospital you may be assessed and treated by a physiotherapist to help you get home as soon as you are well enough. You may also be referred to a physiotherapist as an outpatient or in a community setting.
Our role is to help you regain your mobility and independence after your amputation. We can also help you if you have a congenital limb deficiency. We’ll teach you exercises to:
- improve your strength
- prevent muscle tightening and shortening
As well as methods to:
- help reduce pain
- how to transfer (e.g. from a bed to a wheelchair)
- how to use a prosthetic limb (if you’re suitable for one)
Your physiotherapy programme will be personalised to you and your goals.
This service is based at the Disablement Services Centre (DSC) at the Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle. We provide specialist outpatient physiotherapy services for amputees in north Cumbria and the Borders.
If you live outside of Carlisle, you may receive regular outpatient rehabilitation from other local hospitals while getting specialist support from DSC.
For additional support visit North Cumbria Amputee Support
Service contacts
Disablement Services Centre
Rehabilitation Department
Cumberland Infirmary
01228 814783 or 816868
Cardiac rehabilitation is a programme of exercise, support and advice to help you recover after a heart attack, heart surgery or procedure. You may also be able to attend the programme if you’ve been diagnosed with heart failure or have a device such as an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD).
We can help you to:
- understand your condition
- make changes to your lifestyle to improve your heart health
- reduce the risk of further heart problems
- exercise safely and achieve your goals
Service contacts
Cumberland Infirmary
01228 814733
West Cumberland Hospital
01946 523018
Our team can help you to recover or adjust after an injury, illness or disease. We can also help you to manage long term conditions. Rehabilitation is delivered in your own home and is based around your own goals.
Together we’ll create a personalised treatment plan to help you:
- restore movement and function
- overcome barriers that prevent you from doing activities
- improve your confidence and independence
We help older people to stay active, reduce pain, and cope with the changes in movement that age can bring. We also treat conditions that are common with advancing age, such as:
- arthritis
- falls
- frailty
- hip and joint replacements
- osteoporosis
- Parkinson’s disease
We also run individual and group therapy sessions in various locations that help to:
- prevent injuries
- build resilience
- boost and maintain independence
- improve your quality of life
- help you manage long term conditions
Service contacts
Cockermouth and Maryport
01946 853333 option 4
Cumberland Infirmary
01228 814737
Dent View Rehab Centre, Whitehaven
01946 693181 – ext 22905
Keswick
01946 853333 option 7
Penrith Community Hospital
01946 853333 option 6
Workington Community Hospital
01946 853333 option 8
We assess and treat patients who have an injury, disease or problem that relates to muscles, bones, joints and nerves.
There have recently been some changes to the services (October 2022) so please be aware of the new contact details, below:
The teams within in the service are:
- First Contact Physiotherapy
- IMSK Physiotherapy
1. First Contact Physiotherapy
This service is available in some areas as an alternative to going to see your GP about an MSK condition. Ask your local GP surgery if they are able to book an appointment for you.
At your appointment we’ll assess and diagnose your injury or condition, give you advice on how to manage it and arrange for further tests or investigations if they are needed. We may also refer you to other physiotherapy or specialist services
What is first contact physiotherapy?
2. Integrated Musculoskeletal (IMSK) Physiotherapy
This service includes the Physiotherapy teams and Advanced Practitioners.
They are open to anyone who has pain relating to joints or muscles. You can be referred by your GP or other healthcare professional. You can also self-refer by filling out a form from which you can access via your GPs surgery.
At your appointment we’ll assess and diagnose your condition and give you advice on how to look after yourself. Depending on your diagnosis, you may be given a home exercise programme, hands on therapy, electrotherapy, or take part in rehab classes. Some of our therapists are also able to offer injection therapy.
The Advanced Practitioners, who are part of the team, accept referrals from your GP, Physiotherapist or other healthcare practitioners. This is the route you’ll be referred through to see an Orthopaedic Surgeon.
At your appointment, we’ll assess and diagnose your condition, give you advice and guidance, and if necessary we’ll refer you to a consultant or specialist. All of our Advanced Practitioners are able to do injection therapy.
Service contacts
First Contact Physiotherapy:
- Contact your GP surgery
- IMSK Physiotherapy
Telephone number: 03330 142 876
Option 1: Advanced Practitioner Service
Option 2: Carlisle Physiotherapy
Option 3: Penrith Physiotherapy
Option 4: Copeland Physiotherapy
Option 5: Allerdale Physiotherapy
Option 6: Wigton and Solway Physiotherapy
Email address: (Not for communication for referrals only): ncm-tr.ncic-imsk-referrals@nhs.net
Self-referral to the Physiotherapy Services*
*please be aware you cannot self-refer to the Advanced Practitioner Service).
We assess and treat people with disorders of the nervous system. This includes conditions affecting the central nervous system, such as stroke, multiple sclerosis and motor neurone disease. We can also help you if you have a condition affecting the peripheral nervous system, such as peripheral neuropathy and Guillain Barre Syndrome.
Our approach can help you to relearn or re-establish movement patterns so you can move to the best of your ability.
Service contacts
Carleton Clinic, Carlisle
01228 603151
Cleator Moor Health Centre
01946 853307
Penrith Community Hospital
01768 245555 – option 5
Workington Community Hospital
01900 705100
We provide specialist physiotherapy for men and women with conditions such as:
- birth-related pelvic floor conditions
- bladder and bowel conditions
- chronic pelvic pain
- incontinence
- prolapse
At your appointment we’ll discuss the problems you’re facing and do a detailed assessment so we can plan the appropriate treatment. This may include a physical examination.
We’ll then discuss your treatment options and together we’ll decide on the best way forward. This may include:
- support and advice relating to your condition
- manual therapy
- pelvic floor muscle exercises
- electrotherapy to improve your muscle strength
Service contacts
Community Bladder and Bowel
01228 608060
Pelvic health
Carleton Clinic, Carlisle
01228 602007
London Road Community Clinic, Carlisle
01228 608000
Penrith Community Hospital
01768 245585
Sands Centre, Carlisle
01228 814737
West Cumberland Hospital
01946 523636
Workington Community Hospital
01900 705100
We assess and treat people with conditions that affect the respiratory system such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, bronchiectasis and interstitial lung diseases. Our services can be delivered in your home, at a local clinic or in other community settings.
Our team is made up of specialist physiotherapists and nurses, and in some areas also includes occupational therapists. We can give you, your family and carers support and advice about how to manage your condition and improve your quality of life.
Pulmonary rehabilitation
Pulmonary rehabilitation is a 6 or 7 week course for adults with COPD or other long term lung diseases. It can help you to become less breathless and allow you to do more. You can ask your GP or practice nurse if pulmonary rehabilitation would be suitable for you.
During the course we’ll guide you through exercises tailored to your condition and give you advice about how to manage your disease. You’ll also have the opportunity to talk to other people and their families who suffer from the same or similar conditions.
Service contacts
Carleton Clinic, Carlisle
01228 602036
Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle
01228 814737
Wigton Community Hospital
016973 66616
Workington Community Hospital
01900 705041
Rheumatic diseases affect your joints tendons, ligaments, bones and muscles and symptoms can include pain and a reduced range of movement. Working closely with other health professionals, our physiotherapists can help you get back to living your life normally. We do this through:
- education sessions
- personalised exercise programmes
- manual therapy
- electrotherapy
- steroid injections
- monitoring inflammatory conditions
Your sessions may be individual or group therapy sessions depending on your needs.
For more information about arthritis visit www.versusarthritis.org or www.nras.org.uk.
Service contacts
If you have any questions about your appointment call the contact centre on 03447 760003.
The Sands Centre
01228 814737
West Cumberland Hospital
01946 523636