Many people have been speaking lately about massage guns swearing by their benefits and how they impacted their life positively, so what are they and are they worth investing in? 

Massage guns are electronic devices that are repeatedly utilized by massage therapists to alleviate twinge and enhance blood circulation. They do this by generating vibrations that are applied to the skin with the aid of a massage gun head.

All types and levels of athletes are advised to recover through massage since it gives them an anabolic edge. The post-exercise massage helps the athlete recuperate from intense training sessions, reduces muscle pain, and improves blood circulation.

Not all messages are created equal, some can do more harm than good. It all depends on the period of the massage, the pressure on the muscles, and the timing of the massage.

This is where the massage gun shines the most because it gives you the ability to change the intensity, the timing, and the duration of the massage session, not only that but it is transportable. You can use it anywhere, so no more long drives to the expensive massage therapist.

These are a few of the many benefits of properly using the massage gun

1.Myofascial release and reduced DOMS effect

DOMS or delayed onset muscle soreness can be a real pain, athletes start to feel the effects of DOMS in the next 24 to 48 hours and they can last for up to 5 days after a heavy workout. Massage gun therapy can greatly reduce this pain and get you going again.

Vibration therapy is great for myofascial release, many athletes suffer from tight fascia due to their training volume and intensity, and releasing the fascia offers massive relief and improves flexibility This in turn greatly improves the muscular performance of the athlete and may greatly decrease DOMS. 

But wait a minute, I thought percussion massagers offer percussive therapy and not vibration therapy. Well, don’t overthink this too much.

Both these therapies use the same mechanism. However, percussive therapy works directly over muscle tissue and has the potential to provide much stronger specific results. The current research on vibration therapy is a good indicator that percussive therapy may be a much more effective treatment option.

2. Injury prevention

Massage can be a great tool to properly warm up the muscles and get the blood flowing, this will ensure that your muscles are supplied with enough oxygen.

Using it pre-warm up will help raise body temperature, wake up the body, and increase flexibility which lowers your risk of injury

3. Post-injury care and rehabilitation

Massage gun therapy is highly valuable for athletes and individuals recovering from an injury, it can help speed up the recovery by supplying blood flow to the injured area, improving flexibility without aggravating the injury.

This is why many physical therapists are using massage guns as a primary tool for treating their clients

4. Stress relief 

The reduced physical tension and tiredness will result in great mental relaxation that can be a by-product of a good massage. Not everyone can have access to a professional massage therapist at all times, this is where the massage gun comes into place, it can be used anywhere and at any time which will improve the Recovery process tremendously allowing the athlete to train harder and complete more work each session.

5. Enhanced performance & increased lymphatic circulation

When athletes exercise day after day with stiff, aching, and exhausted muscles, peaking is all but impossible. Before the body can improve, it must first heal, and massage after exercise can help. Massage reduces muscular tiredness by enhancing blood circulation and facilitating the interaction of tissue fluids. Using venous and lymphatic circulation also helps with the elimination of metabolites and pollutants. It improves the flow of new blood back to the muscles, which are full of nutrients and oxygen. 

Additionally, the athlete will need less downtime in between sessions. It is crucial to remember that getting a massage goes hand in hand with proper nutrition and ample sleep to lessen muscle fatigue and prevent injury

When to use a massage gun? 

 As a general rule, 1 to 6 hours after strenuous exercise, hard training, or competition is the best time for a post-exercise massage. It takes about an hour for the body to return to baseline (core temperature and cardiovascular function) and about 6 hours for muscle stiffness and sensitivity to set in. A massage during these times is most beneficial to the athlete. Massage should cover

all muscle groups used, not just the areas of soreness, to facilitate a quick recovery and allow for increased resilience.

How long should be each massage session?

When competing on consecutive days, a thorough but brief massage is required after each exercise bout. The more frequently and intensely an athlete trains, the more often a massage is required. 

However, each athlete will react differently to massage and will need to tailor their recovery time individually. We recommend using a massage gun or a massage ball for pre-workout warm-up to relax the muscle fascia and get blood flow to the connective tissue, but this would take less time than a post-workout massage as the focus here is to loosen up and warm up the muscles. For post-workout massage we recommend that you spend more time massaging the body, especially focusing on the tight areas which need more work.

Things to keep in mind when using a massage gun for the first time:

• Do not use it on bony surface such as joints, spine, neck, and fractures 

• If it’s too painful you are either using too much pressure or the speed is very high, adjust it accordingly to your level of tolerance

• Do not use a massage gun on an area that has impaired sensation. If you feel you’re not getting precise sensorial feedback, don’t continue massaging that area

• Do not use the massage gun on wounds or burns of any sort 

• Avoid using massage gums around nerves 

• Make sure to read the manual and familiarize yourself with massage guns guidelines before using one

By following these tips you can level up your recovery process so you can train more and achieve your goals.

Is Percussion Therapy Safe?

Having leftover all the talk about how helpful massage guns are, can we suggest it? Absolutely! Massage gun therapy is one of the best methods for muscle recovery. but sometimes, we suggest that you make use of the gun appropriately for greater outcomes. It’s additionally better to refer to an expert if you have doubts about your aptitude to take the most advantage of these devices.

Final thoughts

As you may see, the number of massage gun advantages vastly outnumber concerns or disadvantages 

Following the right guidelines and choosing a high-quality massage gun will provide you with a performance-boosting device in the palm of your hand.