The Beginner’s Guide to Massage Guns (2020)

Muscle restoration nostrums are an evergreen fad within the health trade. 

Fancy foam rollers, particular sorts of stretching, overpriced medical tape, CBD oil, and gimcrack dietary supplements are all à la mode.

If you happen to keep updated on these types of issues, you’ve in all probability seen one of many newest restoration trinkets: therapeutic massage weapons. 

Though therapeutic massage weapons have existed for a couple of decade, they’ve turn into well-liked just lately because of fashionable new branding, movie star endorsements, and aggressive advertising. 

And also you’ve in all probability puzzled, are they price it?

Therapeutic massage gun advocates declare these gadgets replicate the advantages of conventional therapeutic massage remedy: soothing sore muscle groups and boosting blood movement, restoration, flexibility, and temper. 

Skeptics declare therapeutic massage weapons aren’t any simpler than common therapeutic massage and never a lot if any higher than cheaper options like a foam curler or lacrosse ball. 

What does science must say about all this? 

Can therapeutic massage weapons enhance muscle restoration and supply different advantages, or are they only an extravagant gimmick? 

You’ll study the solutions to those questions on this article, however first, let’s take a better have a look at what a therapeutic massage gun truly is. 

What Is a Therapeutic massage Gun? 

Therapeutic massage weapons (often known as percussion massagers, percussive remedy weapons, or vibration remedy weapons) are handheld digital gadgets that look just like an influence drill, like this: 

Therapeutic massage weapons have only a few elements: a deal with which accommodates the motor, battery, and different digital parts, and an attachment, which is a bit of sentimental plastic or foam that vibrates and/or reciprocates, relying on the mannequin and settings. 

To make use of a therapeutic massage gun, you place the attachment in your pores and skin and switch it on. The motor strikes the attachment in both a round or back-and-forth movement to therapeutic massage your physique. You may change the vibration pace of most therapeutic massage weapons and swap out differently-shaped attachments resembling balls, ovals, or spikes to fine-tune the therapeutic massage to your liking.

Principally, therapeutic massage weapons simply replicate what a therapeutic massage therapist does—rubbing, compressing, and jiggling totally different tissues. The distinction, after all, is that you should utilize them to therapeutic massage your self, everytime you need, within the consolation of your individual residence, with out paying by the hour. 

Abstract: Therapeutic massage weapons are handheld digital instruments that use a small motor to maneuver a delicate plastic or foam attachment backwards and forwards or facet to facet, which you should utilize to rub, compress, and jiggle totally different elements of your physique. 

Why Do Folks Use Therapeutic massage Weapons?

Identical to common therapeutic massage remedy, individuals use therapeutic massage weapons for a lot of totally different causes. 

If you happen to have a look at just a few of the web sites from therapeutic massage gun producers, although, they primarily tout the next advantages . . . 

Then, after all, many individuals use therapeutic massage weapons just because they discover them stress-free and pleasing. 

Abstract: Therapeutic massage gun producers declare their merchandise enhance restoration from train, cut back muscle soreness, and enhance mobility.

What Are the Advantages of Therapeutic massage Weapons?

Regardless of the hype, solely a handful of research have immediately examined the advantages of therapeutic massage weapons.

The primary was carried out by scientists on the College of Rouen, which investigated how therapeutic massage weapons affected DOMS in athletes. As you’ve in all probability skilled your self, DOMS will not be solely uncomfortable however may also change your posture and biomechanics, which may negatively influence your athletic efficiency (suppose hobbling alongside on sore legs throughout a run).

Learn: Do You Really Need Sore Muscle mass? (Does It Imply Muscle Development?) 

On this research, the researchers had thirty skilled futsal gamers full a collection of checks to measure their posture, steadiness, and perceived muscle soreness, and took a number of blood samples to measure markers of muscle harm. 

Then, that they had the athletes full a exercise designed to trigger as a lot muscle harm (and thus soreness) as attainable, which concerned 5 units of 15 eccentric (decreasing) leg extensions, with a 30-second relaxation between every set. 

Subsequent, the researchers divided the athletes into two teams:

1. A therapeutic massage gun group, which obtained 15 minutes of therapeutic massage gun remedy instantly after the exercise and once more 24 and 48 hours later. 
2. A management group, which didn’t obtain any therapeutic massage gun remedy.

Then, the researchers had the athletes take the entire identical checks on the following instances:

• In the future after the exercise (24 hours later) 
• Two days after the exercise (48 hours later)
• Three days after the exercise (72 hours later)

The researchers discovered that the therapeutic massage gun group skilled 33% much less DOMS than the management group after 24 hours, 43% much less after 48 hours, and 50% much less after 72 hours. 

In addition they discovered that the management group skilled vital modifications of their posture and biomechanics that might have an effect on their exercise efficiency, whereas the therapeutic massage gun group didn’t. 

One other research carried out by scientists at Massey College on 13 bodily lively males discovered comparable outcomes after a strenuous biceps exercise. On this case, the contributors obtained 15 minutes of therapeutic massage remedy utilizing a MyoVolt™ (a vibrating sleeve) instantly after the exercise and once more 1, 2, and three days later. 

The researchers additionally used a intelligent research design the place the contributors served as their very own controls. The precise protocols are extra sophisticated than we have to get into on this article, however the lengthy story brief is that the contributors educated each biceps, then obtained therapeutic massage remedy on both their proper or left biceps. 

Then, they repeated the identical course of two weeks later, however switched arms—in the event that they obtained therapeutic massage remedy on their proper arm the primary time, they obtained it on their left the second time.  

Earlier than and after every exercise, the researchers measured the contributors’ biceps soreness, vary of movement, and energy, and their blood ranges of creatine kinase (a marker of muscle harm).

They discovered that after 1 day, therapeutic massage remedy solely precipitated a small lower in muscle soreness, however there was a big lower on the 2- and 3-day mark. Therapeutic massage remedy additionally reduce creatine kinase ranges in half and doubled vary of movement three days after the exercise. 

Regardless of this, the contributors weren’t any stronger after they obtained therapeutic massage remedy, so it doesn’t seem to be these advantages translated into higher efficiency. 

Earlier than you get too enthusiastic about these outcomes, it’s best to know that each of those research had comparatively small pattern sizes (30 and 13 individuals, respectively) and solely lasted for 3 days, and it’s attainable that bigger and longer research might produce much less spectacular findings. Plus, solely one among them was actually on therapeutic massage weapons. That mentioned, the outcomes had been nonetheless constructive on the entire.

Whereas analysis on therapeutic massage weapons is sparse, there’s analysis on therapeutic massage therapies that work equally to therapeutic massage weapons, which can provide us a greater thought as as to whether these gadgets work as marketed. 

In therapeutic massage therapist lingo, therapeutic massage weapons use a method referred to as tapotement (tap-oat-ment, a tapping motion), which analysis reveals has some benefit. For instance, a 2011 undergraduate dissertation by a pupil at Cardiff Metropolitan College discovered that 5 minutes of tapotement remedy offered by a sports activities therapeutic massage therapist considerably improved agility in athletes in contrast with passive relaxation for a similar period of time. 

On this case, two minutes of therapeutic massage gunning was simpler than 5 minutes, which suggests there’s in all probability some sort of goldilocks zone relating to therapeutic massage remedy. That’s, extra isn’t essentially higher—you need to do sufficient to get the advantages you’re after, however not way more. 

If therapeutic massage weapons do provide some advantages, it’s arduous to pinpoint precisely what to attribute these to. Is it the vibration? The back-and-forth movement? The stress? 

Scientists on the Universidad Católica de Valencia San Vicente Mártir tried to reply this query in a research of 24 recreationally lively adults. 

After warming up, the contributors accomplished lunges till they gave up (until muscle failure, mainly). Then, the researchers cut up them into three teams and had them comply with one of many following protocols after the exercise:

1. Foam rolling, the place they rolled their sore leg muscle groups with an everyday foam curler for two minutes with a 30-second break in between every bout of rolling.
2. Vibration foam rolling, the place they rolled their sore leg muscle groups with a vibrating foam curler for two minutes with a 30-second break in between every bout of rolling.
3. No foam rolling, the place they didn’t do any sort of restoration therapy. 

Then, everybody accomplished the identical exercise on two extra events, besides the researchers reshuffled the teams so that each participant tried both foam rolling, vibration foam rolling, or no foam rolling as soon as. 

The researchers measured the contributors’ ankle vary of movement and stability earlier than and after every exercise, and located that each varieties of froth rolling improved vary of movement and stability greater than no foam rolling.

That mentioned, vibration foam rolling wasn’t any higher than common foam rolling, which means that vibration in all probability isn’t that useful for muscle restoration in and of itself. That’s, the advantages of therapeutic massage weapons might have extra to do with the stress and normal “massaginess” of the remedy, relatively than the vibration, per se.

So, the place does that go away us? 

Sadly, one overarching drawback with all analysis on therapeutic massage weapons and therapeutic massage remedy basically, is that it’s nearly inconceivable to inform whether or not they work just by making the individual really feel higher, or by actual physiological modifications. 

This issues, as a result of as you realized a second in the past, generally merely feeling higher doesn’t truly translate into higher efficiency (in case your muscle groups are broken, you’ll nonetheless in all probability carry out poorly even when therapeutic massage makes you quickly really feel higher). 

Learn: Does the Placebo Impact Actually Work?  

One other problem in deciding whether or not or not therapeutic massage gun remedy is best for you is that many producers, “influencers,” and even prospects share pseudoscientific rationalizations for why therapeutic massage weapons work. 

For instance, you’ll typically see individuals declare that therapeutic massage weapons forestall accidents by boosting blood movement and loosening tight muscle groups, none of which is supported by analysis. There’s additionally little or no proof that therapeutic massage or therapeutic massage weapons enhance blood movement, or that tight muscle groups trigger accidents.

Now, none of that is to say that therapeutic massage weapons are ineffective. If you happen to get pleasure from utilizing them and so they make you’re feeling higher, then by all means, proceed. Simply don’t count on them to be a panacea or “hack” for shielding you in opposition to damage or supercharging your restoration talents. 

Abstract: Though a handful of small research have proven therapeutic massage gun remedy might barely cut back muscle soreness, there’s no proof they considerably enhance efficiency or mobility or cut back the danger of damage. 

Ought to You Get a Therapeutic massage Gun?

Therapeutic massage gun remedy might be about as efficient as getting a standard therapeutic massage, though you additionally gained’t be capable to replicate some therapeutic massage methods like effleurage (round stroking actions) and petrissage (kneading actions). 

What’s extra, one of many essential causes many individuals get pleasure from massages is the stress-free environment and private contact (harhar), which you gained’t get from a therapeutic massage gun. 

That mentioned, therapeutic massage weapons beat conventional therapeutic massage relating to comfort and cost-effectiveness. You are able to do it anyplace, anytime, and with out having to guide a therapeutic massage therapist or go to a salon.

They’re actually not a “must-have” instrument, however in the event you’ve acquired the cash and are in search of a extra handy different to conventional massages, they’re a sensible choice. 

If you happen to do need to get one, hold studying to learn to select the very best one for you. 

Abstract: Therapeutic massage weapons aren’t a “should have” health instrument, however they’re a cheap and handy different to conventional therapeutic massage remedy.

The 5 Greatest Therapeutic massage Weapons for Any Price range

Therapeutic massage weapons vary from about $100 to $600, relying on what options you need. 

Most fashions have about 5 to eight hours of battery life, four to six attachments, and as much as 30 speeds. The principle distinction between cheaper and dearer fashions is the energy of the motor (how arduous the little reciprocating arm can push), the sturdiness, and the noise. 

Nicer fashions are inclined to have stronger motors, last more, and are usually a lot quieter than cheaper ones. Then, after all, pricier therapeutic massage weapons additionally are inclined to have a greater match and end. 

Listed below are just a few fashions price contemplating, starting from least expensive to costliest:

FITINDEX Highly effective Percussion Therapeutic massage Gun ($69.99)

Flyby Deep Therapeutic massage Gun ($89.99)

TaoTronics Percussion Massager ($129.99)

Hypervolt Hyperice ($350)

Theragun Professional G4 ($600)

How one can Use a Therapeutic massage Gun to Get the Greatest Outcomes

There’s no “proper” approach to make use of a therapeutic massage gun—simply play with totally different settings, speeds, attachments and therapeutic massage schedules till you discover one which floats your boat. 

As you realized a second in the past, there’s additionally little or no analysis on the best way to use therapeutic massage weapons, so if one thing works for you, do it. 

That mentioned, listed below are just a few frequent sense suggestions that may enable you get higher outcomes:

• Don’t pressure the therapeutic massage gun into your muscle groups. As an alternative, place it in your pores and skin and transfer it round utilizing gradual, clean motions.  
• Goal to make use of the therapeutic massage gun for 1 to 2 minutes on bigger muscle teams and 30 seconds to 1 minute for smaller ones (extra isn’t higher).
• Don’t use a therapeutic massage gun instantly post-workout, as this might exacerbate delayed-onset muscle soreness. Give your muscle groups just a few hours to chill down earlier than you begin jiggling and jabbing them. 

Most significantly, don’t make the error of pondering that utilizing a therapeutic massage gun means you may ignore the tried-and-true rules of correct coaching and exercise restoration: 

The Backside Line on Therapeutic massage Weapons

Therapeutic massage weapons are handheld digital instruments that use a small motor to maneuver a delicate plastic or foam attachment backwards and forwards or facet to facet, which you should utilize to rub, compress, and jiggle totally different elements of your physique—just like what you’d get from conventional therapeutic massage remedy. 

Though therapeutic massage gun producers declare their merchandise enhance restoration from train, cut back muscle soreness, and enhance mobility, there’s little or no proof any of that is true. 

As an alternative, just a few small research have proven that therapeutic massage weapons can barely cut back muscle soreness and enhance vary of movement after significantly powerful exercises. What’s extra, most research have additionally proven that therapeutic massage weapons (and therapeutic massage remedy basically) doesn’t enhance athletic efficiency. 

What therapeutic massage weapons do properly, although, is assist individuals really feel higher, which is the primary motive most individuals use them anyway. And even when there isn’t a lot scientific proof to again therapeutic massage gun remedy, in the event you get pleasure from it, there’s no motive to not do it. 

Simply don’t purchase the advertising boilerplate you see about stopping accidents or serving to you bounce again from exercises like Wolverine. 

If you happen to do resolve to get a therapeutic massage gun, listed below are 5 price shopping for: 

1. FITINDEX Highly effective Percussion Therapeutic massage Gun ($69.99)
2. Flyby Deep Therapeutic massage Gun ($89.99)
3. TaoTronics Percussion Massager ($129.99)
4. Hypervolt Hyperice ($350)
5. Theragun Professional G4 ($600)

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