Does A Massage Gun Work For Everyone?
Have you been noticing that there seems to be a lot of hype about the world’s latest fitness gadget, the massage gun? When Theragun first appeared on the market, it was mainly the domain of rehabilitation therapists, sports massage practitioners, and sports coaches. Only a few home fitness enthusiasts initially adopted the handheld device for personal use.
Things have changed a lot since then, and now, there are several brands competing in the massage gun market. At a time when every new thing gets hyped up, I guess you’re wondering if you should join this massage gun bandwagon. That’s understandable since they seem to be everywhere these days, especially in gyms, golf courses, basketball courts, and even soccer practice.
Well, ok let’s take a deep dive into massage guns and hopefully by the end of this article you’ll have made your decision.
What are massage guns for?
Massage guns rely on two types of massage therapy for their effectiveness namely, percussive therapy and vibration therapy. According to UCLA Health, percussive therapy (or percussion therapy) uses rapid and repetitive pressure combined with vibration therapy. The massage head moves rapidly and forcefully, applying direct pressure to muscle tissue.
The guns are hand-held devices that allow you to self-massage to release tension, obtain myofascial release, deal with muscle contractions, and relieve pain in the comfort of your own home. They also help you get better blood flow around muscle injuries because vibration therapy breaks down scar tissue. This leads to a faster healing process, relief from chronic pain, and improved range of motion.
Sore muscles and muscle tension benefit greatly from better blood circulation, and the short bursts of pressure provide you with the same benefits of having a deep tissue massage, promoting relaxation.
Used by athletes
Massage guns have attracted the attention of athletes around the world for their physical benefits. Names like James Harden, Paul George, and Breanna Stewart have been associated with the massage gun. They’ve been swearing by the benefits of the massage gun for post-exercise muscle recovery. Even skateboarder Felipe Gustavo has jumped on the bandwagon in recent years.
Why are these athletes so wildly impressed by the massage gun? Well, top athletes are more prone to muscle injuries than us average folks, even if we are serious about our fitness goals. Acute injuries are caused when muscle fibres are torn by excessive force or a sudden change in direction during exercise. Serious tears lead to internal bleeding, scar tissue, and inflammation, the worst nightmare of top-performing athletes. They want to get through the recovery process as fast as possible and massage guns help with this.
The words top recovery technology are now a mainstay when referring to massage guns, and can be heard around gyms, soccer training fields, running tracks, and even at the beach where professional surfers are using them.
Do massage guns work for knots?
This one is for the office worker who never gets rid of the sore back, aching neck, and general aches and pains from sitting in one position for too long. Knots occur when a small portion of muscle goes into a spasm. This can be very painful and is usually a result of repetitive action in one area.
Trigger point therapy is often helpful for what is called a passive injury. By applying firm external pressure to the knot you can encourage the muscle to release the contraction. Massage guns are perfect for knots because the repetitive action on the spasm slowly brings blood circulation to the area, providing pain relief and then a release of the knot.
We know how much office workers are struggling these days with muscle tension. Why not give yourself everyday relief by purchasing the Bang Massage Gun? It’s so quiet you can take it to work and use it to relieve those pesky and painful muscle spasms so that you can focus again. The only problem you may have is that everyone in the office will want to use it.
How effective are massage guns?
Massage guns represent a new age in muscle recovery tools. Having said that, there isn’t the kind of scientific research that one would expect to see for older therapy tools. However, that doesn’t mean it’s not effective, it just means it hasn’t been extensively studied yet.
There are a number of studies that look at the effect of percussion therapy on muscle recovery. One such study concluded that massage guns help to improve short-term range of motion, flexibility, and recovery-related outcomes. [1] Another study looked at the effect of muscle therapy in delayed onset muscle soreness and concluded that massage guns do play a role in preventing DOMS. [2]
To finalise this question, let’s consider the average consumer that wants to use this handheld device at home for muscle tension, soreness, acute injuries, and a relaxing deep massage, and it’s probably not the scientific studies that matter most. It’s the trusted opinion of other consumers and athletes that think it is effective for the purpose it was created for. Perhaps consumers might feel that scientific studies are a more trustworthy source, and that might be so. However, when you’re trying to buy a product, you just want to know if it’s going to be a waste of money or not, right?
Only reviews are going to tell you the answer to that question. You need to know what other people like you think it solves their problems. Let’s look at some real recovery from real people.
- “It helps so much with soreness and muscle stiffness which is what I struggled so much with before.” Drake (verified purchase)
- “Once my bang massage gun arrived, I use it two or three times a day and I love it. You see, I have 3 jobs and they're all physical so my whole body aches and this massage is just what I need to get relief from pain.” Charito (verified purchase)
- “I have Fibromyalgia and on a low setting it helps with the pain of tight muscles and fascia. Although I must be careful, if setting is too high it does cause a fibromyalgia flair up!” Wayne (verified purchase)
- “I've got a new piece of kit that's making a real difference. Decades of sporting injuries add up, so being able to address nagging strains on the spot is fantastic. Thanks BANG!” Jason (verified purchase)
Are they better than foam rollers?
Foam rolling found a place in the physical therapy and fitness industry when it was made popular by leaders in muscle performance and recovery, such as the High Performance Center in Arizona.
Your muscles are surrounded by connective tissue called fascia. This connective tissue can become rigid impeding blood circulation which can cause inflammation and swelling, and therefore pain. Blaming the fascia for muscle soreness and musculoskeletal pain has become a bit of a buzzword, and with it the suggested remedy for dealing with this problem - the foam roller.
One study showed that foam rolling had a moderate effect on DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness), helping to decrease muscle tenderness, stiffness and pain. [3] However effective foam rolling may be, it still has a downside. The pressure that comes from foam rolling is applied by your own body weight, and when you want to work smaller areas or go deeper into the muscle it won’t accomplish that.
But a massage gun, which typically comes with 4-6 different heads, can reach places that a roller cannot. The percussive action of the massage gun also goes deeply into the muscle, beating the manual therapy of foam rolling.
Are there disadvantages to using a massage gun?
There are only disadvantages to using a massage gun when it is used incorrectly, or you have serious chronic illnesses affecting the musculoskeletal system.
When used incorrectly, massage guns can cause damage to sensitive tissues and blood vessels. Before you purchase one for yourself or for someone else, you should be aware of these things.
The foundational therapy that makes a massage gun effective is the replication of percussion therapy, as discussed earlier. This backwards and forwards drumming action is what improves muscle pain, and breaks down scar tissue and is what makes massage guns worth it. However, there are some areas of the body on which massage gun usage is a very bad idea.
The front of the neck, from just behind the ear and moving along the jawline is a sensitive area that does not have much fibrous muscle and consists mainly of bone and cartilage. This is also an area that has sensitive arteries (such as the carotid artery) and vessels. Using a massage gun here could result in the rupture of these arteries or vessels, resulting in a serious problem. The back of the neck, where there is more muscle, is fine, but you should use the lowest setting possible to get pain relief and never use it on your spine.
Don’t use a massage gun on your face. This includes the cheeks, under the eyes and especially not on the eyes.
Directly under the armpit, where there are arteries, veins and a nerve bundle, should be avoided. This also applies to the femoral crease where your legs meet the groin area.
If you have any open wounds, skin tears or infected skin you should not use the massage gun directly on that. Some people may think that massaging the area will increase circulation and therefore healing, but this is not a wise idea.
Who should not use a massage gun?
Anyone who has chronic illnesses that affect the muscles should exercise caution. If you have muscle atrophy, a lack of muscle strength due to degenerative diseases using a massage gun would not be advised. Also, if you have a serious illness like cancer, avoid using this product until you recover. The massage gun is also not for anyone with diabetic neuropathy, where you do have sensation in certain body parts.
Is a massage gun better than a massage?
A deep tissue massage targets tension in the muscles, reducing muscle stiffness and releasing muscle knots. It involves a physical therapist using slow strokes with an adequate amount of pressure to soften muscle tightness and break down adhesions from scar tissue. These adhesions can block circulation, causing increased pain. A therapist will work through trigger points with either their fingers or elbows, applying firm pressure where necessary. [4]
Some physical therapists have started to use massage guns to thoroughly work connective tissue and large muscle groups, and to promote relaxation. They also feel that it’s easier to use a massage gun to get deeply into areas that benefit from percussive therapy.
The verdict appears to be out on whether the massage gun is better than a deep tissue massage. However, it is a matter of personal choice, so this argument may never be resolved. Some people enjoy the experience of a human massage, and others want the freedom of being in their homes and using the massage gun whenever they want to. If convenience, cost, and the ability to get a massage whenever you want are the criteria, then the massage gun wins.
Ready to buy a massage gun?
Right, as we end this deep dive, we’ll cut to the chase. If you’re ready to buy a massage gun, go for The Bang Massage Gun, currently Australia’s favourite massage gun with +700 5-star reviews and a 100-day money-back guarantee. If you want to know how it compares to the famous Theragun, take a look below.
Don’t worry about this just being another piece of equipment you’ll throw in the closet and forget about. These products are going to be around for a long time and once you buy one for yourself, you’ll be getting requests to get one for other people, too.
When you’ve purchased one, send us a message on Instagram or TikTok and let us know how you feel about it. Until next time.
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