Physiotherapy

The Physiotherapy services are located both in the acute (hospital) and community settings depending on the speciality. The physiotherapy teams cover a large geographical area in Cumbria.

Physiotherapy is a healthcare profession with a science foundation. The range of work is very broad and varied and involves working with people to promote their own health and well being.  We work with patients who have a wide variety of different conditions such as joint and muscle pains, neurological (nervous system) disorders, respiratory (breathing) and cardiac (heart) conditions, post-surgery rehabilitation, balance problems plus many more.

 All Physiotherapists in the NHS are Chartered and are members of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (MCSP) and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). This means they have at least 3-4 years training and have achieved a high standard to become members of the CSP.

Our Physiotherapy Services are located in both hospital and community settings, depending on the Speciality, with our team covering a large geographical area across Cumbria.

The material on this site aims to give information on some of the physiotherapy services provided and also accurate information on common conditions via reviewed internet sites.

What our patients say about us:

Great for encouraging exercise, good fun, socialising, feel free to ask questions and come away feeling good about myself.

Common areas in which physiotherapy is used are outlined below.

• Cardiac Rehabilitation Services - Cardiac Rehabilitation is provided by a team of professionals, including Physiotherapists and nurses, for  adults with cardiovascular disease and a wide range of cardiac conditions, and aims to encourage increasing physical fitness and lifestyle changes.
• Physiotherapy Services for patients in the West Cumberland Hospital - Physiotherapy services are provided to almost every ward area within the West Cumberland Hospital; from Intensive Care to Orthopaedics, and Elderly Care to Children.  The aim of the inpatient physiotherapy service is to rehabilitate adults and children, and enable early discharge from acute hospital care.
• Core Musculoskeletal Service - Physiotherapy is often used to treat conditions and injuries that affect the bones, joints and muscles, such as lower back pain, sports injuries and post trauma. It is also used to assist rehabilitation after orthopaedic surgery. 
• North Cumbria Musculoskeletal (MSK) Service – The North Cumbria MSK Service is an integral part of the North Cumbria Physiotherapy Service. The Advanced MSK Practitioners and Advanced MSK Podiatrists who work within this team manage patients with complex non - surgical musculoskeletal conditions. These practitioners have at least five years' experience of working in musculoskeletal clinics and have specialised in musculoskeletal conditions by undergoing extra training and have close working links with the orthopaedic department.  
• Neurological - Physiotherapy can be used to help people who have a neurological condition that affects the nervous system, such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, stroke and cerebral palsy.
• Paediatric - Physiotherapy may be used to treat children who have conditions which affect their muscles or skeleton. Some of these conditions, such as muscular dystrophy (a slow, progressive muscle wasting disease) may be present at birth (congenital). Physiotherapy may help to improve balance, strength and co-ordination. As well as muscular dystrophy, physiotherapy may be recommended for conditions such as cerebral palsy (a brain condition that affects posture, movement and co-ordination), and spina bifida (a condition which causes a deformity of the spine).
• Physiotherapy for Older Adults - Physiotherapy is often used to treat conditions that are particularly common with advancing age, such as arthritis, osteoporosis, falls, frailty, Parkinson’s and hip and joint replacements. It is also an important part of general care for older people by helping them to stay active and independent, reduce pain, and increase resilience to cope with the changes in function that age can bring.  

For more general information visit NHS Choices Psysiotheraphy information