Massage therapy is a great way to reduce muscle pain and strain. Many people love the therapeutic benefits, like helping them relax from stress and release tension. While it’s wonderful to be able to visit a massage therapist, not everyone can do that regularly.
“Having your own massage gun can give you the benefits of massage therapy any time you want in the comfort of your own home,” says David Garcia PT, DPT, OCS.
We’re here to explain what massage guns are, what they do, the best ways to use them — and how we can help.
What Are Massage Guns?
Massage guns, also known as percussive massagers, provide short bursts of energy into your muscle tissue. They utilize vibration therapy and target sore muscles with rapid-fire pulses.
Through vibration therapy, they help reduce muscle soreness by increasing blood flow to the targeted area. Not only can they reduce it, they can also prevent delayed onset of muscle soreness. Massage guns are also known to reduce lactic acid, a common culprit of athletic pain.
David Garcia advises you can invest in a massage gun for:
- Improving circulation
- Improving mobility
- Increasing blood flow to specific body parts
- Post-surgery recovery
- Reducing the need for in-person massage therapy
- Stress recovery
- Tight muscles
- Workout recovery
Best Ways to Use Your Massage Gun
“To get the most out of your massage gun, try to relax the targeted muscle(s) beforehand,” explains David Garcia. You can have a partner help you, if available, for harder-to-reach areas. Start slow and try not to overdo it at first, so you can find your comfort level, speed and intensity.
David Garcia says, “Two to three minutes per muscle group is perfectly effective. By combining stretching with your massage gun, you’ll get even more benefits.”
Remember, you can expect some muscle soreness, but if you experience pain while using your massage gun, stop and take a break. Don’t use it on broken skin or bony parts of the body, and talk to your doctor first if you have certain conditions like blood clots or if you use prescription blood thinners.
How We Can Help
If you need professional help with an injury or chronic pain, our team of experts is here for you at AdventHealth Sports Medicine and Rehab. If you’re interested in investing in a massage gun or other therapeutic tools, several of our Sports Med centers carry these products for their patients.
We’re all about keeping your body, mind and spirit functioning optimally and feeling whole. Visit us here to start your journey toward healing.
