The current pandemic has not only led many people to become inventive with their athletic fitness regimes but also with their workout recovery efforts.
And as a result, group recovery sessions and remedial massages are out, and in, to save the day, comes the must-own percussion massager.
Percussion massagers make the perfect tool for workout recovery.
Everyone from professional athletes, recreational gym-goers, and people who experience chronic pain are absolutely in love with these incredibly powerful recovery tools.
To help you incorporate them into your fitness and recovery routine, here's everything you need to know about massage guns as well as a list of the best ones we both know and trust.
The Benefits of a Percussion Massage Gun
Just like a traditional massage or foam roller, a percussion massage gun assists in flushing built-up venous blood or lymph fluid from sore muscles by increasing fresh blood flow and circulation.
This process helps to relax tightened muscles, break apart scar tissue, and reduce muscle tension and soreness.
In fact, a study published by Pain Medicine study published by Pain Medicine found that massage therapy is a tool to assist muscles in the recovery phase.
While another study, published by the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, found percussive therapy is an effective method of reducing and preventing delayed onset muscle soreness or DOMS.
Alongside this, there is evidence to say that percussion massage guns also assist in:
- reducing muscle pain
- assist in muscles recovering faster
- reduce muscle fatigue
- limit the lactic acid build-up in muscles
- increase mobility and flexibility
- increase and encourage blood flow
- reduce stiffness and tension
- and even help reduce stress levels while also helping athletes get better sleep
What to Look Out for in a Percussion Massage Gun
When it comes to grabbing yourself a percussion massager gun, you're a little spoilt for choice.
To make things a little easier, here are some super handy buying tips.
Power Output
Perhaps one of the most important features to look out for in a percussion massager is the amount of power a unit is likely to deliver to your sore muscles.
When we say the amount of power, what we mean is 1. how much movement, depth and amplitude, a massage gun's head moves, and 2. how rapidly a massage gun's head oscillates.
These two factors largely affect how effective a percussion massager will be at delivering its therapeutic benefits.
Firstly, the amplitude potential of a massage gun dictates how far its head travels. In other words, it determines how shallow or deep a stroke the massage gun is likely to deliver.
And secondly, the amount of speed a massage gun's head oscillates the gentler or stronger a massage will be.
When choosing a massage gun, particularly a gun that is likely to be used for multiple people, it's best to find one that has a wide variety of speed settings. The more speed variations you have at your disposal, the more you can tailor a deep tissue massage and how it is administered to your body.
Battery Life
Most massage guns on the market are cordless and run on lithium-ion batteries. And on average, most of these devices will operate for between 2-4 hours at full-speed.
Something that falls short of this mark is likely only going to cause you frustration and leave you wishing for a unit with a touch more battery life.
And depending on how often and for how long you plan on using your new massage gun, planning ahead and finding a device that lasts long enough to treat your sore muscles is a must.
Head Attachments
Another big consideration when choosing a percussion massage gun is its compatibility with different head attachments.
Most percussion massagers come somewhat stocked with head attachments, which should suit most athlete's needs. Although, sometimes there exists a desired head attachment that doesn't come standard with a new purchase.
If this is the case, ensure your new gun is compatible with aftermarket or genuine add on massage heads.
Percussive vs. Vibration Therapy
Something else to take note of when hunting for a massage gun is whether or a unit offers percussive or vibration therapy.
In this case, of course, we are looking at percussion massagers, not vibrational massagers. Although, it is important to make a distinction between the two as they are super easy to mix up.
Why is it important to know the difference?
Well, vibrational therapy and percussive therapy are very different and offer different therapeutic benefits.
Vibration massage therapy involves, well, vibration. Vibration therapy is great for superficial layers, those muscles that aren't too deep and are easy to access.
On the other hand, percussion therapy, delivered by a percussion massager, is not only great at focusing on superficial layers but also those muscles that lie deeper within the body and are harder to access.
In fact, the main difference between the two therapies is that percussion therapy reaches up to 60 percent deeper into muscle layers than consumer-grade vibration massagers.
Warranty
From our experience, the quality of massage guns that are available on the market varies quite a bit. And, really, even if you've chosen a high-end device, there is the possibility something may go wrong.
To avoid any disappointment, ensure the massage gun you've chosen has a comprehensive warranty that will cover the way you intend to use it.
The 10 Best Percussion Massagers of 2023
Ok, time to share our best percussion massagers that we are super confident will help you relieve those sore muscles of yours.
These percussion massagers will loosen up those tight spots, release built-up lactic acid, and help relieve any chronic pain you may be experiencing.
Here is our list of massage guns that we both know and love.
