A massage gun is a massaging tool that comes in many different shapes, sizes, and prices. It’s commonly used by massage therapists, physical therapists, and chiropractors to relieve pain and increase blood flow in muscles and other soft tissue.
These professional massaging instruments are easily available for you to buy and use at home. But before you go out and buy a percussion massage gun, there are some important things to know about them first.
In this blog post, we’ll talk about:
- What Is a Massage Gun?
- 10 Benefits of Owning a Massage Gun
- How Do They Work?
- What Massage Technique Do They Use?
- Who Should Use a Massage Gun?
- How Do You Use One?
- What Should You Look for When Buying a Massage Gun?
- Recommendations
- Are Massage Guns Worth It?
- Legal Disclaimer
- Questions You May Have
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What Is a Massage Gun?
A massage gun is a handheld device that delivers an intense massage. It’s commonly used by massage therapists, physical therapists, and chiropractors to relieve pain in muscles and joints.
They come in many shapes and sizes; some are small, like the size of your hand, while others can be as big as a backpack with different attachments for kneading or massaging specific areas on the body.
10 Benefits of Owning a Massage Gun
- They’re easy to use
- Affordable price range
- They make deep tissue massage accessible at home
- Promotes blood circulation
- Relieves muscle soreness and stiffness
- Reduces pain
- Helps to break up and heal scar tissue in the body
- Helps athletes recover from workouts in half the time
- They massage at a higher frequency than massage therapists
- They’re lightweight and portable, making them easy to travel with
How Do They Work?
A massage gun can penetrate deeper than a human hand because of the speed that it uses. The higher the speed of the massage gun, the more intense the massage.
The massage gun, which is a massaging tool that applies massages, is great for muscle recovery. As this article by Frontiers in Physiology states, “Massage seems to be the most effective method for reducing DOMS and perceived fatigue.”
DOMS is the abbreviation for delayed onset muscle soreness, which is a fancy way of saying the soreness you feel after a hard workout session. It’s that annoying soreness you feel when you can’t bend, sit, or walk properly without the help of your arms after you did leg day at the gym the previous day.
The massage gun also helps massage out painful knots that have formed in the body because of stress and trauma.
What Massage Technique Do They Use?
Massage guns massage the muscles and other tissue by applying targeted vibrational massage therapy.
Vibrational massage therapy is a massage technique that has been found to be as effective as massage therapy.
The massage is applied with the use of vibrating massage tools, such as massage guns and massage wands. Vibrational massage therapy aids in the relief of tension and tightness in muscles, pressure on joints, and stress.
The massage gun creates enough power to provide deep massage at home without having to see your massage therapist every time you need help with muscle soreness, pain relief, or injury recovery.
The most popular and widely available massage guns use a specific massage technique called percussion therapy — the act of applying massage by using repetitive impact-driven movements (percussions) to stimulate and massage muscles, fascia, and other soft tissue.
Some massage guns even use both techniques at different speeds to give you a more intense massage experience.
It’s important to start slowly if you’ve never used one before so you can get accustomed to the speed and intensity of your massage gun.
Who Should Use a Massage Gun?
A massage gun is ideal for anyone who wants to experience deep tissue massage at home and relieve chronic pain they might have all over their body.
It is beneficial for professional athletes and mothers who carry their babies in slings every day, which can cause back pain. Also, people with jobs that involve lots of sitting and typing on computers all day that causes tightness in neck muscles, and anyone looking for relief from chronic muscle soreness, bruises, or other injuries caused by stress and overuse.
However, it’s not recommended for people with severe injuries because of the high impact force. Even though some massage guns do come with the ability to decrease the impact force, they could still cause damage to the skin and muscle tissue especially for people with severe sensitivity.
With that in mind, anyone can benefit from owning a massage gun; it’s not just for professionals!
It makes massaging specific targets on your body more accessible at home with its easy-to-use design.
How Do You Use One?
It all depends on which massage gun you end up buying. Read the manual and follow the instructions carefully.
If you use the massage gun for too long — sometimes 30 minutes to an hour — you may end up causing more damage to your muscles instead of relief.
Massage guns massage by applying penetrative vibrations to muscles. So if you’re using it for too long or at a higher intensity than what your body can handle, you may cause permanent damage.
When starting out, break sessions into several smaller ones and never exceed the time limit stated in the manual.
It may be very tempting to ignore the warnings and precautions, especially if your pain is deep-seated, but a little goes a long way.
Always proceed with caution.
What Should You Look for When Buying a Massage Gun?
There are many different massage gun options on the market.
The two most important factors to consider when buying a massage gun are the power and the size of the handle. A large handle is necessary for people with larger hands, while a smaller grip may be more comfortable for those with smaller hands. If you have sensitive skin, look for a model that has adjustable speeds so you can control how much pressure is applied.
Be aware of what type of head attachments come with your purchase. Some models only include one attachment, while others come with several attachments in different shapes and sizes.
Also, pay attention to whether or not your new massage gun comes with batteries or if they need to be purchased separately. And make sure there’s an on/off switch on your device, so you don’t accidentally leave it running all day long and drain the battery life.
Some massage therapists prefer devices with multiple speed settings to adjust massage intensity, while others like a manual massager for more targeted pressure since you can control its pressure. Therefore, it’s important to consider what features will be most beneficial to your requirements and needs when buying one.
You want to make sure that the massage gun you’re shopping for has multiple speed settings, is easy to take apart and clean has a long battery life and comes with an instructional video or manual.
There must be head attachments included because a massage gun works best if customized according to what part of your body you will be massaging.
Recommendations
Theragun PRO
The mother of all the other massage guns, the Theragun Pro comes with six head attachments and has five speeds to target different muscle groups.
Anyone experiencing chronic aches and pains that they can’t seem to get rid of through stretching exercises alone could benefit from using a massage gun like this powerful device found on Amazon.
If you have an active lifestyle where there’s lots of physical activity such as running, hiking, biking, working out in the gym, then it might be wise for you to consider purchasing one. Because these activities put a lot of stress and trauma on different parts of your body, having a portable massager can keep your body operating optimally.
The Theragun mini is also a great travel option, but it only has one head attachment and three speeds. However, it is a much cheaper option than the Theragun Pro.
ALDOM
This massage gun is the one I own, and it has changed my life.
It has six different head attachments and has up to thirty different speed levels. I frequently switch from the deep tissue massage head to the general massage head and usually stay on the first speed.
The carrying case is perfect for traveling, and the battery life lasts for weeks with minimal to moderate use.
If you’re looking for something more budget-friendly, then this massage gun, also available on Amazon, will be perfect. Plus, if you have Prime, it can get to you as early as tomorrow with free shipping!
Are Massage Guns Worth It?
In my humble opinion, Hell Yes!
This thing has relieved a lot of my pain and has become an essential tool in my self-care kit.
Massage guns provide many benefits, from helping with muscle recovery after strenuous workouts to improving circulation for those who live active or inactive lifestyles.
The power of massage is unrivaled by anything else when it comes to reducing stress levels and stimulating blood flow throughout different parts of the body.
With all these benefits at an affordable cost, why wouldn’t you want to own your very own portable massager?
Legal Disclaimer
The information in this article is entirely for educational purposes. It’s best to consult your doctor before considering a new form of exercise therapy.
Questions You May Have
What do I need to know before buying a massage gun?
When you’re buying a massage gun, there are several things to think about and consider. Does the massage gun come with different types of attachment? Is it easy to clean? Are you comfortable using it? Will it help relieve your pain problem without causing damage?
What is a good rpm for a massage gun?
A good rpm for a massage gun is about 3,000 rpm. However, it’s important to find the speed that is effective for you. Some people prefer a slower speed, while others prefer a faster speed. It all depends on your personal preference. If you’re not sure where to start, experiment with different speeds until you find one that suits you.
Are massage guns bad to use?
Massage guns are not bad to use; however, they can be very dangerous if used incorrectly. If you do not use your massage gun properly, it can lead to serious muscle damage. Please make sure to use your massage gun correctly. Read the user manual to avoid any injuries or accidents.
Does it matter what massage gun you buy?
It does matter what type of massage gun you buy. Not all massage guns are created equal. You need to find one that is right for your needs. If you’re not sure where to start, ask a professional or do some research online to find the best massage gun for you.
