14/03/2021
CAN MASSAGE GUNS REALLY DECREASE MUSCLE PAIN?
Over the past few years, percussive massage guns have become a popular recovery tool, finding favor among doctors, trainers, professional athletes and fitness enthusiasts. They look and sometimes even sound like power tools, but these handheld devices are meant to make you feel better — by increasing blood flow, breaking up tension, decreasing soreness and improving range of motion — all things that can lead to better warmups and speedier recoveries.
Massage guns work by sending direct vibrating pulses through your muscles. According to a study in the Journal of Clinical & Diagnostic Research, vibration therapy and traditional massage are both effective at reducing delayed onset muscle soreness. But in addition to combatting pain, vibration therapy also proves helpful in decreasing the levels of lactic acid in your body post workout. So, while static recovery items like foam rollers can dig into tight spots and loosen muscles, the vibration advocates may be onto something.
To learn more, we spoke with Josh Orendorf, a doctor of physical therapy, certified personal trainer and the owner of Paceline Physical Therapy in Franklin, Tennessee.
WHY TRY A MASSAGE GUN?
“Massage guns are typically used to ease tight muscles and temporarily increase circulation,” he says. “I’ve found them to be most beneficial immediately before a workout.” He mentions that massage guns are great at increasing blood flow to local muscle tissues. This works twofold: it can help to prepare your body for its workout while also potentially reducing the risk of a muscle strain.
Orendorf notes that massage guns can also provide benefits after a workout. The percussive pressure helps to flush lactic buildup out of the muscles and decrease soreness.
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