Can Your Massage Gun Replace Your Physiotherapist?
Massage guns have grown in popularity across the world. First seen in the hands of physical therapists helping professional athletes, they have become a popular staple among fitness enthusiasts as a way to aid in muscle recovery. Nowadays, they are considered an essential tool in physiotherapy clinics.
A question remains: do massage guns actually help with muscle recovery? Can they replace the functions of a physiotherapist? These are just some of the questions that we will seek to answer in this article, but before all that, we have to start with the basics.
How does a massage gun work?
Massage guns are hand-held machines that use rapid strokes to stimulate tissue that is deep in the body. They are designed to stimulate blood flow to the muscles, helping them relax and easing their pain and soreness. These guns are designed as a form of percussion therapy, and can be fitted with different attachments depending on your needs. All these options, however, are essentially performing the same function.
Some reported benefits of massage guns are as follows:
- Easing the effects of Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) after workouts
- Improving flexibility
- Improving mobility
- Promoting circulation
- Promoting breakdown of scar tissue.
The beauty is that these are often highly portable. Many people buy these instead in lieu of paying for a physiotherapist because it is more affordable than paying for regular visits.
The science behind these benefits
As we’ve mentioned before, massage guns were designed with deep tissue massages in mind. Deep tissue massages serve the purpose of loosening muscle tissue, especially since tightness in the muscles can lead to a whole host of problems.
Outside of aches and pains, tight muscles can lead to imbalances in motion that can lead to various injuries. In the wrong part of the body, such as the lower back and spinal area, it can cause misalignment of the spinal column, pinched nerves, and other debilitating conditions.
So can it fill in for a physiotherapist?
While a massage gun can perform the deep tissue massages a physiotherapist can, it cannot substitute for their expertise of the human body. After all, there is a reason why the profession needs a license. Beyond that, it is also important to think of the tool as working better in the hands of a master.
While it is perfectly fine to buy your own massage gun to treat routine aches and pains, people with more persistent conditions or acute pains in different parts of the body should still see a professional. Their expertise might just help you make the most out of such tools. Correct use of a massage gun can maximize its effectiveness and promote better recovery.
Final thoughts
Massage guns have proven incredibly effective at treating the various aches and pains experienced in physical exertion. They have made deep tissue massages easier and more accessible to every person. That being said, they are still best used in tandem with the expertise of a physiotherapist, especially if you tend to go hard with your physical activities.
If you’re looking for a massage gun that suits your needs, why not consider buying the Gravity Massage Gun? Ours is the best of its kind in Canada, and you might even snag one under Black Friday prices if you act fast.