How effective a Theragun is will depend on the needs of each individual. Small research studies suggest that percussive therapy can increase a person’s range of motion, prevent muscle soreness, and reduce pain. However, larger studies are necessary to confirm this, and Theragun products can be expensive. A person may find it helpful to ask a doctor for advice on whether percussive therapy may benefit them. Can the Theragun cause injury?

It's the definition of simple. Just point the gun at your fleshy target – around an inch away from your skin over whichever muscle you’re trying to loosen or warm up – and hit the trigger for instant relief. They were judged on how easy they were to control, the impact they had on sore muscles, their ability to move across skin and muscle smoothly, and the effectiveness of any interchangeable massage heads included. The design (how ergonomic the handle was), portability and any other innovative features were also taken into consideration when deciding the final hierarchy. Our winning massage guns boast the Men's Health Lab Approved logo below. The Multi-Device Wireless Charger is compatible with PRO, Elite, and Wave Roller™. Only ONE device can be charged at a time. The Multi-Device Wireless Charger is NOT intended for use with mobile phones, tablets, or any devices other than the ones described here and doing so may result in damage. Charging your PRO or Elite Each massage gun was trialled for a three-week period, used to prime and relieve our experts' muscles around their fitness-filled schedule of weightlifting, HIIT, running, yoga and more.Move slowly up and down the length of the muscle for around 30 seconds – if you find a particularly sore spot (or ‘trigger point’), spend a little more time on it, but there's no need to apply more pressure. Try not to wince. This warranty does not cover damage caused by misuse or abuse, accident, liquids, including but not limited to, water or lotions, the attachment of any unauthorized accessories, alteration to the product, improper use, unauthorized repairs or modifications, improper use of electrical power supply, loss of power, variation in line voltage, dropped product, malfunction or damage of an operating part from failure to provide manufacturer's recommended maintenance, transportation damage, theft, neglect, vandalism or environmental conditions, loss of use during the period the product is at the Theragun repair facility or otherwise awaiting parts or repair or any other conditions whatsoever that are beyond the control of Therabody. Standard Ball- Perfect for overall use on large and small muscle groups, with a firmer touch than the Dampener.

The sleek, sturdy device has four interchangeable heads (a bullet, a fork, a flat head and a soft head) and five oomph-inducing speed settings for more targeted recovery. The brand boldly claims it reaches 60% deeper into muscles than standard massage guns to banish deep-set aches and pains. Sure enough, it worked wonders on our tester’s sore, knotted muscles. They even felt a difference after just one use. Massage guns, also known as percussive therapy devices, help relax and soothe sore muscles, whether you’re an athlete or just hunching over a desk all day. Theraguns (made by Therabody) tend to be some of the most popular. We’ve tested and like the entire range, but they’re expensive. There are plenty of Theragun alternatives out there for hundreds of dollars less. In this guide, you’ll find a mix of both for all budgets—plus helpful information from a physical therapist and athletic trainer on how these devices can help our bodies. These are our favorite massage guns.

4 closed-cell foam attachments

This device offers a lighter touch, so it’s better suited to less intense recovery sessions or general R&R in front of the telly. On that note, it was one of the quietest models we tried, scoring almost full marks in our noise tests. Cochrane, D. J. (2017). Effectiveness of using wearable vibration therapy to alleviate muscle soreness [Abstract]. The Theragun is a handheld percussive therapy device. The idea is to deliver concentrated force to a muscle to help reduce pain and increase the range of motion. The company claims that it can provide deeper muscle therapy than traditional hand or foam rollers. The health and activity data collected on your Therabody app stays there, period. At Therabody, we understand your health and activity data is yours and yours alone. We don’t collect, sell, or share any of your data, ever. In fact, feel free to test this by activating Airplane Mode on your phone. You’ll see that the app continues to work independently of any signal, as all of your data is stored locally on your device.

Imtiyaz, S., et al. (2014). To compare the effect of vibration therapy and massage in prevention of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). It may be the size of a small water bottle, but it’s brimming with impressive features. You get five interchangeable heads (most mini massagers come with just one or two) and there are five speed settings to flit between, giving you a whopping 25 massage combos to try. If you need some guidance, there’s a handy user manual, which provides step-by-step routines for warm-up, mobility and recovery. According to our tester, these were genuinely useful.

5 closed-cell foam attachments

Generally, a higher price tag will indicate a more reliable product and, when fully charged, a decent massage gun should last for a few days to a week, based on around 15 minutes' use per day. Men's Health Lab Approved When holding the PRO or Elite by the top handle, attachment away from you, place the left side of the device on the plate of the Multi-Device Wireless Charger, following the shape on the top surface.

I like the breathwork feature that walks you through deep breathing via the LCD screen, paired with a heart rate sensor. This is also on the Theragun Sense device, below, if you don't need all the other features here. Compared to the 6th-gen Pro, you get a better carrying case, but lose the rotating arm. Another small study found that vibration devices helped with muscle soreness and range of motion. However, they did not assist muscle recovery. This warranty provides you with specific legal rights. You may have additional rights, which may vary from state to state. Because of individual state regulations, some of the above limitations and exclusions may not apply to you. Our experts at the MH Lab tested the mettle of the best massage guns on the market. And, as the list below shows, they were more than up to the challenge. According to a 2020 study, percussive therapy can increase range of motion without hampering muscle power. As a result, the researchers recommend using percussive therapy before physical activity to increase flexibility without sacrificing performance. However, the study only included 16 people, all of whom were male.To turn on the Theragun mini, firmly press and hold for 2 seconds the multi-functional power/speed button on the right side of the device. The company states that a person can use the Theragun two or three times a day. A person should use it for a minimum of 15 seconds and a maximum of 2 minutes per muscle group, and a full body session should not exceed 15 minutes. Cone- Used mostly for pinpoint muscle treatment and commonly used on smaller muscle groups, including the hands and feet. When you're browsing the best massage guns, ideally your purchasing priorities should centre on noise control, battery life and quality.