Dry Needling in Tampa, FL

Are you struggling with chronic muscle tension, trigger points, or nagging pain that won’t go away? At Physique Therapy, our expert team offers safe, effective, and evidence-based dry needling in Tampa, FL to help you find lasting relief and restore full-body mobility.

Dry needling is a powerful technique used by licensed physical therapists to release tight muscle tissue, reduce inflammation, and relieve pain. If you’ve tried traditional physical therapy but still experience stiffness, limited motion, or persistent discomfort, dry needling may be the breakthrough treatment your body needs.

Whether you’re recovering from an injury, managing chronic pain, or dealing with muscle tightness from athletic performance, our dry needling services are personalized to your condition and goals.

PERSONAL TRAINING RESULTS

Our Physical Therapy & Personal Training Builds Better, Pain-Free Everyday Lives

What Is Dry Needling?

Dry needling is a therapeutic technique that uses thin, sterile needles inserted directly into myofascial trigger points—also known as “knots”—to relax tight muscles, improve blood flow, and relieve pain.

Unlike acupuncture, which is based on traditional Chinese medicine, dry needling is a modern, evidence-based technique rooted in Western anatomical and neurophysiological principles. It’s used to target specific muscular dysfunction and restore optimal movement patterns.

At Physique Therapy, our trained physical therapists use dry needling in combination with manual therapy, corrective exercises, and other treatment modalities to maximize your recovery.

Conditions Treated with Dry Needling

Dry needling is effective for a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions and soft tissue injuries. We commonly use it to treat:

  • Chronic neck and back pain
  • Shoulder impingement and rotator cuff injuries
  • Hip, glute, and IT band tightness
  • Sciatica and nerve entrapments
  • TMJ (jaw) pain and headaches
  • Tennis/golfer’s elbow
  • Plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinitis
  • Patellofemoral (knee) pain
  • Sports-related muscle tension
  • Post-surgical muscle reactivation

If you’re suffering from ongoing pain, tightness, or restricted movement, dry needling may help restore mobility and reduce your reliance on pain medications.

How Dry Needling Works

Trigger points are hyper-irritable spots in muscle tissue that can refer pain to other areas and contribute to dysfunctional movement. During a dry needling session, your therapist inserts a very fine needle directly into the trigger point, which causes a brief contraction followed by relaxation of the muscle.

This response increases blood flow, reduces inflammation, and “resets” the muscle, allowing for more natural movement and less pain.

Most patients describe the sensation as a slight cramp or twitch, followed by relief and a reduction in muscle tension. The effects are often noticeable after just one session, especially when combined with other physiotherapy techniques.

What to Expect During Your Dry Needling Session

At Physique Therapy, your dry needling treatment will always begin with a thorough assessment of your symptoms, posture, movement patterns, and soft tissue health. Based on your findings, your therapist will determine which muscles need to be treated and create a tailored plan.

A typical session includes:

  1. Assessment and Diagnosis
  2. Targeted Dry Needling Treatment
  3. Manual Therapy or Soft Tissue Work
  4. Education for Self-Management and Prevention

We take a conservative, patient-first approach to ensure your comfort and safety throughout the process.

Benefits of Dry Needling

Dry needling offers several key benefits for patients of all fitness levels and conditions:

  • Immediate reduction in muscle tightness
  • Improved range of motion
  • Faster recovery from injury
  • Decreased pain and inflammation
  • Improved function and athletic performance
  • Better response to other forms of physical therapy

Many patients find that dry needling accelerates their progress when combined with strength training and manual therapy.

Is Dry Needling Right for You?

If you’ve been searching for an effective solution to chronic muscle tension, stiffness, or soft tissue pain, dry needling could be the missing piece in your recovery. It’s ideal for patients.

  • Experiencing muscular pain or dysfunction
  • Recovering from surgery or injury
  • Living with chronic conditions like fibromyalgia or myofascial pain syndrome
  • Athletes looking to speed up recovery and improve muscle performance
  • Anyone looking for a non-invasive, drug-free approach to pain relief

At Physique Therapy, we’re happy to discuss whether dry needling in Tampa, FL is the right fit for your condition.

Why Choose Physique Therapy for Dry Needling?

As one of Tampa’s leading physical therapy clinics, Physique Therapy is proud to offer:

  • Licensed physical therapists trained in advanced dry needling techniques
  • A clean, comfortable, and modern clinic environment
  • One-on-one treatment sessions tailored to your body
  • A holistic approach that integrates dry needling with exercise and manual therapy
  • Long-term support to help prevent future pain

We’re here to help you move better, feel stronger, and live pain-free.

MICHAEL JOHNSON
TAMPA REAL ESTATE AGENT

BACK PAIN, BULGING DISC FOR OVER 10 YEARS

It’s crazy to me that I won’t even need my next cortisone shot for my back. I’ve had pain for so long. Kristy gave me a targeted combination of physical therapy, personal training, massage and dry needling that addressed my back pain and imbalances – I didn’t even know I had. I’ve had back pain for so long and because of Physique – I finally feel better. The best physical therapy in Tampa for true life-changing pain relief.

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Frequently Asked Questions

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION
Is physical therapy like personal training?

At most physical therapy clinics, no physical therapy is not like personal training. That’s why Physique is unique! We integrate personal training in all of our physical therapy programs.  We believe that’s the way Physical Therapy should be! At Physique your program is designed to treat your condition and improve your fitness – your program may include free weights, barbell movements, resistance bands, weight machines, medicine balls, and suspension equipment. We design programs for you to have a better everyday life in all aspects of health and fitness.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION
When to get a personal trainer? 
When to get a personal trainer? 

People are often cautious about starting with a personal trainer. Cost of sessions & feeling intimidated by working with a pro are common concerns. Hiring a trainer may seem like a luxury – but if you truly want to get results – it’s a great investment. The improvement in your health & fitness has returns in quality of life, confidence and decreased health care costs. Our team works to make every client welcome – of all fitness levels, ages and experience – we all start somewhere!

When should you get a personal trainer? 

Here are 10 reasons why you may want to start with one of our Physical Therapist / Personal Trainers:

You Have a Specific Illness, Injury, or Condition 

If you find yourself avoiding certain exercises because of pain or skipping the gym because your ‘bad’ knee or ‘bad’ hip hurts – then we’re the right trainers for you. We specialize in helping people with complex injuries recover and grow stronger. 

You Aren’t Seeing Results

Getting help from an expert will dramitacally change the speed and effectiveness of your results. Whether you want to gain muscle mass or improve your confidence. We will show you results faster and help you understand your results – beyond the scale!

You’re Bored With Your Workouts

Getting used to the same treadmill and dumbbell routine? We love creating programs with movements our clients have never done before. It’s fun for you and for us. We’ll get you out of the same old routine and into one that has you try new things.

You Want to Be Challenged

Each person prefers a different level of difficulty in exercising. We love creating programs to push you out of your comfort zone and giving you new experiences. Try one of our custom programs to re-learn the thrill of physical growth and break a serious sweat.

You Don’t Know Where to Start

Everyone starts somewhere! Starting an exercise, strength or weight loss program can be intimidating, so we make sure you’re comfortable with every program, technique and method.

You Want To Train For An Event (such as a local 5K, Iron Man or Physique Competition)

Interested in running in a local race? We are too! We often run local 5Ks and we’d love to train you to join us for a local event! Or if you’re looking beyond local get in touch with our advanced athletic trainers so we can develop a plan specifically for your competitive event.

You Need Motivation & Someone To Help Keep You On Track

Everyone hits walls on motivation and staying on track. If you find yourself yo-yo-dieting or losing the motivation to go to the gym for serveral months, a trainer would be great for you. We’ll help you see results, stay motivated and help nudge you when you aren’t feeling it.

You Want to Learn How to Exercise on Your Own

Trainers don’t have to be a lifelong commitment. Maybe you want to learn the fundamentals of exercise, health and nutrition and then take that knowledge back to your gym. We’ll give you the tools to build a better program specifically for you.

You Want To Train For a Specific Sport

We are experts in movements at Physique, but we are also current and former athletes. We are passionate about building your body for peak performance. If you’re interested in training for an upcoming sports season, get in touch with our team.

You’re Embarking On a Long Outdoor Event

If you’re getting ready to hike, for example, the Pacific Coast Trail, preparation is key. As outdoor lovers ourselves, we’ll help you get set up with all the physical fitness needs for an endurance event like this. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION
What are personal trainer rates? How much does personal training cost?

In Tampa, personal trianing sessions are typically anywhere from $70-$150/session for a standard personal trainer working freelance. Gym trainers often cost upwards of $80-$220/session because of the facilities and the gym’s cut.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION
Are personal training sessions worth it?
Are personal training sessions worth it?

People are often cautious about investing in a personal trainer trainer. Hiring a trainer might seem like a luxury, but – if you truly want to get results – a trainer is a great investment. The improvement in your health and fitness levels also has return in quality of life, confidence and decreased health care costs.

Other benefits include:

  • Better Workout Quality (in sessions and improve your workouts on your own too!)
  • Professional Programming 
  • Nutrional Guidance
  • Professional Guidance on Proper Exercise Technique and Safety
  • Workout Customization (for your goals, needs, limitations and preferences)
  • Help with Motivation, Consistentency, & Accountability
  • Training for a Sport

Our personal trainers are also physical therapists and can help with more than the typical trainer.

  • Specific Customized Workouts for Recovery for Specific Illnesses, Injuries, or Conditions
  • Corrective Exercise to identify and fix imbalances you may or may not know about
  • Help you Understand Progress Beyond The Scale
  • We provide our InBody 570 device for body composition analysis (to help you understand changes in body fat, muscle, bone density & more)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION
What Is Take Home Programming & Patient Education?

A key part of our program is teaching you how to improve inside and outside the clinic. You will access your custom treatment plan online. It includes exercises with visual aids, so you can work on them anywhere. We will teach you how the proper technique for these movements while your at your 1-on-1 appointment with a team member.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION
What is a Physical Therapist/Trainer?

All Physique team members are highly-trained physical therapists/ personal trainers. A physical therapist is a licensed professional who has completed an accredited program (a professional entry-level degree or clinical doctoral degree). A trainer is a certified individual competent to create safe & effective exercise programs.