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How Effective Are Massage Guns?

Fitness, Gadgets

How Effective Are Massage Guns?

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Over the past several years, massage guns have become more mainstream in our culture. Take a look around. You’ll see them in the gym, at your friends’ house, and sometimes even on TV!  There’s a good reason for this. These vibration machines are well-known as effective recovery tools for both athletes and regular folk alike.

Each year, more and more companies are releasing massage guns to the public. The quality of these massage guns can greatly vary. Some companies, such as Lifepro, have a large selection of massage guns to meet any need and budget. Others only have a few available. If you wish to know everything you need to know about massage guns, just click this link.

lifepro massage guns

Credit: Lifepro Fitness

In this article, however, we are going to dive into the overall effective of massage guns.

  • Are they good at aiding muscle recovery?
  • Will they help you perform better in the gym and when you compete?

We will dive into several of the most popular reasons people use massage guns, as well as pointing out how effective they are for these specific purposed. By the time you finish reading this article, you will know how effective they truly are and if a massage gun is a wise purchase for you.

Contents

For Muscle Recovery

One of the most well-known uses of a massage gun is for muscle recovery. You likely see people using a massage gun at the gym or they have one sitting at home for just this reason. Even athletes use massage guns for muscles recovery! Could you use them in similar ways as well?

For maximum efficiency, you’re going to want to use your massage gun immediately after your workout, so make sure to pack it in your gym back. From the moment you use your massage gun on those muscles, you release lactic acid, muscle tension, and toxic buildup. When you use a massage gun with the proper attachments, the overall effectiveness for muscle recovery improves even further.

One question we heart a lot in this regard is: “When do you use a massage gun?” Well, the answer is simple. As mentioned above, for maximum recovery, massage guns should be used as close to the end of a workout as possible. On top of this, you’re also going to want to continue to use your massage gun after each workout. Not once every other workout. Every single workout. Consistent use is key to getting the most of your massage gun as your body adjusts to its use, allowing you to more easily choose higher intensity settings. Plus, you’ll improve your overall muscle recover time.

For Athletic Performance

There are multiple reasons athletes are often seen using massage guns. For starters, they are an excellent tool to use when warming up. A short massage from your massage gun can make an excellent addition to any warmup. It gets the blood flowing and relaxes your muscles, which in turn reduce your odds of injury and give you an extra boost on the field.

Also, muscle recovery is a major factor in athletic performance. Regular massage gun use reduces delayed onset muscle soreness (known as DOMS), which reduces the amount of time you need between workouts. As a result, you can go harder and longer during each workout. So if you want to reduce your recovery time and really go at it 100 percent of your workouts, a massage gun is an excellent tool for you.

For Circulation

As you are no doubt aware, massage guns work wonders for loosing up those tight muscles. Why is this the case? The answer is simple. Regular massage gun use works wonders for your circulation! When you get the blood flowing, you also allow more oxygen to flow through your muscles, improving strength, durability, and flexibility alike.

In the past, you would need to go through a rigorous stretching regiment, that could easily take you 10 minutes or more. But with a massage gun, you can save time on your stretching by improving your blood flow when using the massage gun. Just “point and shoot” where you’d like the massage. It really is that easy!

For Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a debilitating disorder that affects almost 4 million adults in the US alone. Fibromyalgia is known to cause widespread pain in the muscles and joints. Unlike many other conditions, there is no known cure for Fibromyalgia. However, with effective treatment, the pain can be greatly reduced. In fact, many people live happy lives thanks for effective pain management, one technique of which is massage therapy or massage gun therapy!

Fibromyalgia often manifests itself in the form of joint tightness, so you’re going to want to use your massage gun to gently massage those tight or painful spots and break up those muscle knots. When you do, you’re going to start feeling some relief. Will it be night and day? In many cases, yes. However, it is still important to note that a massage gun is only a pain relief method. There is still no cure for fibromyalgia. So if you’re in need of some relief, you may want to consider using a massage gun.

For Sciatica

Sciatica is another painful condition that massage guns often provide relief for. Named for the sciatic nerve, sciatica typically manifests itself as a shooting pain down your lower back and legs. Typically found in older or obese people, this is a truly uncomfortable condition that massage guns often provide excellent relief for.

One of the major causes of sciatica is nerve pressure, which is why deep tissue massage is often recommended as a way to experience relief. With the massage gun, you’re going to want to pay extra attention to your hamstrings, glutes, and lower back. Since massage guns are so precise, you can more easily target these muscle groups, along with other pressure points.

Also, sciatica can occasionally be caused by a sore back after lifting or an intense workout, which makes a massage gun all the more effective. You may even want to try other massage gun attachments to ensure the most effective massage and enjoy maximum relief.

Final Thoughts

It is no big secret that massage guns are becoming more popular each year. However, many people still think of them as simple ways to enjoy a massage on demand. However, as you can tell, massage guns do much more than that. They make it easier to get a great workout in. They provide soothing relief from painful conditions like fibromyalgia and sciatica. Above all, they are just plain convenient and easy to use!

As such, we would say that massage guns are clearly a convenient and effective tool for multiple purposes. Whether you’re looking to get more out of a workout or simply experience some pain relief, a massage gun is an effective, yet low-cost option that we highly recommend checking out!

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