Percussion massager therapy can offer your body many benefits without the hassle and expense that come with the visit to a massage therapist.
Percussion therapy is done with the use of massage guns, which are also known as percussion massagers, percussive therapy, and vibration therapy.
The electric tools deliver a thorough and vigorous massage experience, typically coming with a selection of attachments such as:
- Balls of varying firmness
- Finger-like tips
- Various settings to maximize relief
Percussion massage therapy is for anyone looking to increase their physical wellness through muscle relief.
That’s why endurance athletes, triathletes, and ultramarathoners use this type of therapy consistently to maximize their performance and keep their body functioning at optimal levels.
When setting out to purchase a massage gun, you should know some of the benefits and risks of the product.
You can receive all the benefits of a professional massage therapist in your home, office, and on-the-go with massage guns.
Let’s dig into the intricacies of these products so that you can be confident you are purchasing the best massage gun to meet your needs.
Big Benefits of Percussion Massager Therapy
Similarly to a traditional massage, a massage gun aims to reduce inflammation in your muscles by flushing extracellular fluids.
This can include fluids like venous blood and lymph fluid—expelling these from your muscle tissue and into their proper place in the circulatory system of your body.
This process helps to:
- Break up scar tissue and adhesions
- Relax tight muscles
- Minimize muscle soreness and tension
Some studies have found percussive therapy to be as effective as traditional massages in preventing delayed onset muscle soreness, as well.
One of the greatest features of percussive massage therapy is that it is recommended that you perform it on yourself, unlike many other types of bodywork that require an extra set of hands.
If someone else is using the gun on your body, they can’t tell exactly how much pressure they are exerting, thus making you less comfortable than if you were to perform the action on yourself.
Regardless of credentials, skills and experience, massage guns achieve the best results when self-performed.
Additionally, massage guns can be utilized as a part of your pre-workout routine. Using massage guns to wake your muscles up can serve to facilitate a more productive workout.
Because of the extreme ease in which massage guns can be operated, people of all ages and backgrounds—from fitness enthusiasts to accountants constantly on their computer—anyone can experience reduced tension and enlightened muscle health with little effort and expense.
Avoiding Overuse
The benefits of massage guns can lead some people to overuse the product.
If your tissue is getting red extremely quickly, you may have excessive blood flow in the targeted area.
When experiencing redness, it’s best to either put the massage gun down for a while or move to another body part.
This is because keeping the massage gun in one spot for too long (which can happen in just a couple of minutes), can lead to skin tenderness, soreness, and bruising.
Therefore, experts recommend avoiding holding the gun in a static position for excessive amounts of time. Instead, a better practice is to move it around in a small circular motion around the targeted region.
Taking Proper Precautions to Ensure Relief
Massage therapists undergo specialized training and study human anatomy to ensure that your massage experience is as productive as possible.
Massage guns, on the other hand, do not require as much specialization. While this can be a huge benefit for cost-effectiveness and time-saving, it’s important that you don’t abuse the newfound power you have to relieve tension in your muscles.
It’s up to you to protect your body.
Firstly, it’s always a good idea to get clearance from your doctor or medical professional before self-treating with a massage gun, especially if you have underlying conditions.
The massage gun is meant for exclusive use on your muscles—not your nerves, bones, joints, and other tendons.
Percussive massager therapy should never cause you pain. Your muscles will never relax during a painful massage.
In fact, pain with a massage gun can actually work against the health of your muscles if operated improperly. When your body experiences pain, it’s natural instinct is to resist the massage through a process called muscle guarding.
Your muscles will begin to function as a sort of brick wall, thus rejecting the benefits of massage gun therapy.
Additionally, if you are experiencing a pins-and-needles sensation, you are likely hitting a nerve— a phenomenon you should be careful to avoid. If you feel these pins and needles or any other strange sensations, it’s always best to put the gun down.
You should also avoid enacting percussive massage therapy on scabs, wounds, cancerous lesions, or sites of a recent bone fracture or other injury.
If you suffer from peripheral neuropathy or other ailments that reduce or impair your body’s ability to detect sensation, a massage gun may not be the best route of care for you.
Without acute sensory feedback, damage could occur without you even realizing it.
The application of a massage gun to the neck region is also not recommended. The neck is simply too intricate and attached to your nervous system, making the risk outweigh the reward.
You should feel free, however, to safely use the massage gun on your shoulders and trapezius region to relieve common stress build-up in those muscles. This can be especially beneficial for those who spend long hours sitting in front of a computer.
Do Massage Guns Actually Work?
While some individuals may maintain a healthy skepticism surrounding the effectiveness of self-performed massage therapy, studies have proven that massage guns do actually work.
Percussive massage therapy has been shown to be especially effective in the treatment of DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness). This means that with proper use of a massage gun, you are less likely to experience muscle tightness or pain 24 to 72 hours after an intensive workout.
You should search for brands that were created by people who actually want to help you feel better and lead a productive, healthy lifestyle.
Many athletes, physical therapists, and chiropractors swear by the benefits of percussive massager therapy—making it a valuable and worthwhile option for treating DOMS and other muscle-related ailments.
Are Massage Guns Affordable?
When compared to the expenses of consistent treatment by a massage therapist, massage guns are very affordable.
You can experience long-term relief on your own terms. While you can discover tools for percussion massager therapy on Amazon for as little as $100, we recommend investing a little bit more in a proven massage gun to ensure that you are getting the best results possible out of your treatment.
A one-time investment in a proven massage gun, which is likely to range between $250-600 dollars, can save you a great deal of money in the long haul.
Massages from massage therapists typically range anywhere from $40-$200 per session. And because it’s so important to consistently treat your muscles, these costs can really begin to add up.
Massage guns typically pay for themselves with a month of purchase as compared to visiting a massage therapist.
Luckily, because of massage guns’ effectiveness, you won’t have to sacrifice the results of your treatment. You can be confident that you are receiving all the benefits of a full massage experience with an easy-to-use, versatile tool in the comfort of your own space.
Best Devices for Percussion Massage Therapy
The Theragun Pro Massage gun has all the features you want from a percussion massager: long battery life, durability, multiple head attachments, and deep relief.
With so much versatility and battery life, enhancing muscle recovery, releasing stress and tension in your muscles, and soothing discomfort has never been easier. Theragun serves as the industry standard and remains in a league of its own when it comes to muscle relief.
Known for its high levels of functionality and effectiveness in treating muscle pain, the Hypervolt’s line of percussive massagers deliver a relaxing, pain-relieving experience for anyone looking for real relief.
It comes with five head attachments, with a specialized fork attachment designed to treat the upper regions of your shoulders. While it’s not as durable as Theragun and doesn’t provide the same industry-leading warranty, it’s one of the leading sellers on the market.
The Sportneer Percussive Massage Gun is perfect for anyone who is looking for relief on-the-go. Its compact design is quiet and powerful, and available for cheaper than other massage guns on the market.
While it’s less versatile than Theragun and its battery life can drain quickly while on higher levels, Sportneer is a good option as a secondary device that can be used in the office or at the gym without causing a ruckus.
Conclusion
The percussive massager therapy revolution has arrived.
With a massage gun, you can offer your body the same benefits of a massage therapist without expensive sessions and time-consuming visits.
The vibrations and percussions provided by a massage gun deliver a thorough, dynamic, and robust massage experience.
Massage guns aren’t just for endurance athletes and those who work out frequently—though they are certainly a favorite method of treatment for those individuals.
Percussion relief therapy is great for anyone who spends long days sitting at the computer or experiences muscle tightness of pain for a multitude of reasons.
Just as with any new form of treatment, you should always consult with your doctor before using a massage gun for your muscles. If you experience redness in the targeted region, a pins-and-needles sensation, or pain of any kind, you should put the massage gun down and make sure that you are operating the tool properly.
Not everyone can afford to visit a massage therapist several times a month; it’s just not financially feasible.
That’s why so many people are turning to massage guns that are authentically crafted for your wellness. You can save a great deal of money while still experiencing relief from delayed onset muscle soreness, tight muscles, and muscle pain.
If you’re looking for an innovative and revolutionary way to treat your body, then percussion massager therapy might be right for you.
Sources
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3939523/
https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/04/cnn-underscored/massage-guns/index.html
https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a27007501/massage-guns-recovery-warmup/
