What is a Massage Gun?
A massage gun, also known as a percussion massage device or percussive gun, is commonly used as a vibration therapy for post-workout. They’re portable devices that can be used to vibrate or percuss your muscles at different speeds, providing pain relief for sore or tense muscles after a workout or an injury.
Why Are Massage Guns So Popular?
More than ever these days, you’ll see people at the gym carrying a massage gun around with them—but why is this?
They’re gaining popularity for several reasons, but the main one is the benefit of relieving pain and being a great addition to your pre- and post-workout routine. When used regularly, a massage gun can prevent your muscles from soreness and keep you feeling your best. They’re also both affordable and portable, making them accessible to most people today to purchase.
Benefits of a Massage Gun
Besides providing a quick percussion massage after the gym, we have listed other massage gun benefits below.
1) Increased Blood Flow and Lymphatic Circulation
A percussion massage gun can increase your blood flow and lymphatic circulation. The increased blood flow can help when used to target areas that are tight or in pain, decreasing tension and encouraging faster healing.
Additionally, it can aid your lymphatic circulation, which can prevent your lymph nodes from being clogged. A massage gun can reduce inflammation and flush out lymph fluids through the circulatory system.
2) Reduce Muscle Soreness and Build Muscle Strength
A percussive massage from a massage gun can decrease muscle soreness when used both before and after workouts—and it can also contribute to building muscle strength. This is because a massage gun improves muscle contraction, thus giving strength and length to your muscles.
3) Good for Injury Recovery
Massage guns do support sore muscles, but they were first invented as a pain management tool for those who have experienced injuries. They’re a great holistic solution to massage soft tissue and alleviate pain and tension in the body. Massage guns do this by increasing blood flow to the sore areas, as well as releasing lymphatic fluid to reduce inflammation caused by an injury.
4) Relieve Pain
Got an achy back and in need of a back massager? A massage gun can relieve pain, whether it be from a previous injury or from an intense workout. They do this by encouraging blood flow to the area to decrease muscle pain and tension. Massage guns are an excellent tool to have on the go for workouts or to use in combination with your physiotherapy as you recover.
5) Stimulate the Nervous System
A massage gun can stimulate your nervous system with the vibrations it sends through the muscles in your body to help you relax. Stimulating the nervous system can aid in stress reduction, benefiting most people these days who find themselves in a chronic state of stress.
6) Relaxation and Stress Relief
Sometimes stress isn’t just psychological—it’s physical too. The tension in our bodies can build up, resulting in tight muscles and uncomfortable knots. A muscle machine gun can relieve your muscles of tension and your overall body of stress when used regularly. When your muscles are relieved of their tension, the rest of your body receives a signal to relax—inducing much-needed stress relief.
7) Improve Sleep
Having a difficult time falling asleep? A massage gun has been proven to help you feel more relaxed and reduce pent-up stress. Using it as part of your bedtime routine can calm your nervous system, increase your blood flow, and encourage overall sound sleep through muscle relaxation.
How Do You Use a Massage Gun?
When people have tense muscles, they might reach for their massage gun. To avoid muscle tension, however, it’s better to use a massage gun both before and after workouts to warm up the muscles and reduce stiffness.
To get the best use of a massage gun, it’s best to find the area in your body that feels tight and then start gradually applying pressure to the bulk of that muscle. You can stay in one spot for up to 15 seconds or work across an area for up to two minutes.
Where is the Best Place to Use a Massage Gun?
A massage gun can provide a lot of relief for your muscles, and there are a few key places you can use them to optimize your massage. The most common and best areas to use a massage gun are:
- Calves
- Quads (the front of your thigh)
- Hamstrings (the back of your thigh)
- Glutes
These are the best places to target, as they’re some of the most common muscles left feeling tight, especially after a long walk or an intense leg workout that day.
Are Massage Guns Safe?
When used correctly, massage guns are perfectly safe to use. Sure, some massage gun reviews say they’re harmful and unsafe, but like most things, this comes as a result of improper use. For instance, using it for too long on one spot or placing it on a joint could cause injury or harm.
Read the instructions thoroughly and follow them—that’s the key to using a massage gun properly and reaping the benefits.
Where Can I Buy a Massage Gun?
Owning a massage gun can give you several health benefits, from improving your lymphatic system to improving your quality of sleep. Additionally, a massage gun can be a great post-workout addition to your routine to relieve muscle soreness.
Are you ready to own your own massage gun? Rack to Door has several massage gun options at an affordable price range. With tons of accessories and different pressures, you can find the best massage gun to use after a long day or an intense workout.