Before You Buy a Massage Gun: Is It Worth the Purchase?
Massage guns are handheld devices that people can use themselves for percussive and vibration therapy. It promises the benefits of not needing to visit a massage therapist, which most patients can’t experience due to physical distancing restrictions. Although it may provide a similar effect of soothing muscle pain, many people still wonder if it’s a viable replacement for meeting a professional massage therapist.
What does a massage gun do?
A massage gun resembles a power drill and replicates a vibrating or thrusting action with a series of attachments and speed settings. It’s meant to mimic the firm yet soft impact of a massage therapist’s hands that guide and redirect blood flow to soothe different kinds of muscle pain.
Individuals can use the gun to aim at particular pain points in their body to reduce inflammation and feeling of fatigue. The device does this by flushing extracellular fluids out of the muscle tissue back into the circulatory system. It can also relax tight muscles, minimize muscle tension, and prevent delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) that people often experience after intense physical workouts.
Why are people buying massage guns?
Contrary to popular belief, massage guns aren’t just luxury items that people can use to receive similar massage treatment benefits. They’re sometimes necessary for people who are undergoing recovery therapy to maintain or regain their muscle strength. Many people currently cannot experience specific services that require physical contact, such as massage therapy. For this reason, massage guns are becoming a popular purchase for people stuck at home.
Is it safe to use a massage gun by yourself?
A massage gun’s design caters to personal use, allowing you to reach different areas of your body without putting a strain on yourself.
It’s best to use it on yourself. The danger of letting someone else use the gun on you is that they can’t tell how much pressure you’re experiencing from the device. Although massage guns have relatively safe work settings, it can still do more harm than good if you misuse them.
How do I use a massage gun?
If you start noticing redness on your skin, you may have a lot of blood flow in that area. It’s best to move the massage gun to another part and avoid leaving it on one spot for long. Sometimes just a few minutes will do. The risk of not following this rule is the development of slight bruising and soreness. The ideal way to use a massage gun is to move it around in circles around a small radius. A massage gun should never cause you pain, even if you misuse it. At worst, your muscles will end up being sore instead of relaxed.
Additionally, you should train your body to brace for the sensation that a massage gun will create. If you perform muscle guarding to brace for the impact, your muscles won’t experience its soothing effects. Although massage guns rarely inflict pain on muscles, you should never use them on bones, nerves, joints, and tendons. Doing so will create a feeling of touching pins and needles, which is a sign that you’re using it at the wrong body part.
Conclusion
Buying a massage gun won’t replace the training and expertise that massage therapy can provide. However, it can remedy your need for expensive massage therapy for simple problems like muscle soreness and fatigue. It’s a tool that you can use after a rigorous workout and prevent your muscles from staying idle while you’re stuck at home in idle positions.
Our Gravity massage guns promote a deep muscle treatment unlike anything you’ve ever felt. Order from us today to experience an at-home massage therapy during this pandemic!