SEVENTEEN local physiotherapists are involved in an intensive four-day training on ‘Dry Needling,’ a technique which is expected to improve physiotherapy in Guyana.

“Dry Needling is where you take a needle and place it in the patient to relieve tension, pain and different forms of pain… It’s a form of manual therapy for patients,” Director of the Disability and Rehabilitation Services of the Public Health Ministry, Ariane Mangar said.

According to Medical News Today, practitioners of ‘Dry Needling’ attempt to release tension from knots and pressure points in the body’s muscles

The ‘Dry Needling’ exercise commenced on Saturday and will conclude on Tuesday. The 17 physiotherapists, according to Mangar, hail from Region’s Three, Four, Six and Nine and will be able to immediately provide this service to patients as they return to their departments after completing the training on Tuesday.

This course is being run by the Ministry of Public Health, in collaboration with the Guyana Physiotherapy Association; it is being conducted by trained professional from the Everything Therapy Group, Dr. Mahera Somaiya

The director also disclosed that this training was a very costly one, totalling over $6M, and will see the physiotherapists receiving recognised certification to perform this on patients. Presently, only physiotherapist with the Guyana cricket team, Neil Barry, is certified to conduct this training locally.

“With the world going forward, we can’t stay backwards and Guyana needs to keep up with the rest of the world,” the director said. “If the rest of the world is finding it as a very good technique in treating patients and relieving pain, then Guyana should be on the forefront also providing this service to patients and athletes.”