Dry needling · Clearwater, FL
Dry Needling in Clearwater, FL — and What to Compare It With
Most Clearwater searches for dry needling are really searches for muscle pain that will not let go. Here is how needling works, who is allowed to do it, and how to choose.
A calm, coordinated approach
If you are searching for dry needling in Clearwater, you are probably dealing with a knot in the neck, shoulder, hip, or calf that massage keeps loosening and life keeps tightening again. Dry needling is one answer to that. Trigger point needling within acupuncture is another, and it is the one performed here.
At Acupuncture of West Florida, 3001 Executive Drive in Clearwater, every needle is placed by Dr. Kim Windschauer, AP — a Florida Licensed Acupuncture Physician. Patients come in from Safety Harbor, Dunedin, Palm Harbor, Oldsmar, Largo, Seminole, St. Petersburg, and Tampa, with free parking at the door.
What we treat
What trigger point needling is used for
- Neck and upper-trapezius knots that keep returning
- Shoulder and rotator-cuff tension that limits reach
- Chronic low-back tightness and hip bracing
- Calf, hamstring, and IT-band tightness in runners and cyclists
- Jaw and temple tension linked to clenching
- Muscle guarding that has built up around an older injury
Why us
Why patients in Clearwater choose us
- Every needle is placed by a Florida Licensed Acupuncture Physician, not delegated to support staff.
- The tight muscle is treated in context — nerve involvement, posture, sleep and stress all get asked about.
- One clinic, one practitioner: you see Dr. Kim at every visit.
- Straight answers. If needling is not the right tool for your problem, you will be told.
- Central Clearwater location just off US-19 with parking outside the door.
Our approach
How a session works
Assessment first
We locate the taut bands by hand and ask how the pain behaves through your day before anything is needled.
Trigger and motor point needling
Fine needles are placed into the tight band to encourage it to release, often producing a brief twitch and then a noticeable drop in tension.
Surrounding support
Nearby points, and cupping where it helps, are used so the released muscle is not fighting everything around it.
A plan you can check
You leave knowing roughly how many visits to expect and what change would tell us it is working.
The research
Evidence & guidelines
Needling of myofascial trigger points is a widely studied approach to muscular pain, and acupuncture is included in evidence-based integrative pain guidance as a non-pharmacologic option for chronic musculoskeletal pain. Individual results vary, and needling is used alongside — not instead of — care from your physician or physical therapist.
Areas we serve
Serving West Florida
Patients travel to our Clearwater clinic from across Pinellas County and the Tampa Bay region, including:
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Where can I get dry needling in Clearwater, FL?+
Dry needling in Clearwater is most often offered inside physical therapy and chiropractic practices. At Acupuncture of West Florida, the closely related approach — trigger point and motor point needling — is performed by Dr. Kim Windschauer, AP, a Florida Licensed Acupuncture Physician, at 3001 Executive Drive in Clearwater.
What is the difference between dry needling and acupuncture?+
Both use a thin filiform needle. Dry needling focuses narrowly on releasing a taut muscular trigger point, while acupuncture treats the trigger point in the context of the whole presentation — nerve involvement, movement pattern, sleep, and stress. The larger difference is training: acupuncture physicians in Florida complete a multi-year graduate program and a state licensing process specific to needling.
Does trigger point needling hurt?+
You may feel a brief twitch or cramp when a tight band releases, followed by a dull ache for a few hours. Most patients find it very tolerable, and Dr. Kim adjusts depth and intensity to what you are comfortable with — tell her immediately if anything feels sharp.
How many sessions will I need for muscle pain?+
Localized muscle pain often changes within two to four visits, while long-standing pain patterns usually need a longer plan. Dr. Kim gives you an honest estimate at your consultation and reviews progress with you rather than selling a package up front.
Do you take insurance for dry needling in Clearwater?+
We are a self-pay practice and do not bill insurance. You receive a superbill after your visit that many plans accept for out-of-network reimbursement, and HSA and FSA cards are accepted.
Ready to feel better?
Book a consultation with Dr. Kim Windschauer, AP.
Book Consultation 727-490-6060Visit the clinic
3001 Executive Drive, Suite 150
Clearwater, FL 33762
Mon–Fri · By appointment
Ready to feel better — naturally?
Book a consultation with Dr. Kim Windschauer, AP. We'll listen to what's going on and tell you honestly whether acupuncture can help.
Muscle pain that keeps coming back?
Book a consultation with Dr. Kim and find out whether needling is the right tool for your presentation.