These Are Our Favorite Massage Guns

When therapeutic massage guns first appeared in 2016, they modified the activity for restoration obsessives. The equipment give a com­bination of vibration and “percussion”—rapid punching by a mechanical arm—that can assist loosen up muscle groups, reduce tiredness, and improve selection of movement.

They operate simply because the entire body responds to pressure, stretching, and force by growing a function of the autonomic nervous method referred to as parasympathetic exercise, suggests Cameron Yuen, a physical therapist at Bespoke Solutions in New York City. That in flip encourages blood circulation and nutrient uptake. Furthermore, it feels superior. 

To use, allow the head of the massager glide more than your skin, kneading the targeted muscle mass for a minute or two. If you uncover a cranky location, add pressure, but do not go overboard—too substantially force can lead to the muscle mass to contract. And do not ignore to operate the locations previously mentioned and below, Yuen suggests. 

Just after some demanding (and stress-free) testing, here are the very best new therapeutic massage guns. 

1. TimTam PowerMassager Pro ($five hundred)

percussion
(Photo: Courtesy TimTam)

This tool rivals the Theragun Pro (below) for ability, operation, and performance, but runs quieter. It has three speeds, as well as modes for warm-up, lumbar, neck, and restoration massages. There are three attachments, which includes a single that heats up, for further tissue aid, and a vibrating ball that boosts the shaking sensation. A few uses took treatment of lingering pain in my outer shin. It is a bit really hard to maneuver, in part simply because the ability button (which also cycles via the velocity configurations) is found on the interior tackle. Hitting it unintentionally can flip a relaxing knead into an sudden pummel.

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two. NordicTrack ­Percussion ­Massager ($ninety nine)

percussion
(Photo: Courtesy NordicTrack)

This tranquil, no-frills design is substantially extra economical than its counterparts. But there are trade-offs. Despite the fact that it has three velocity configurations, it’s not as strong as the some others here. The therapeutic massage felt a bit ­superficial—more vibration than percussion. Although it could not be the very best alternative for someone who trains intensely, it could operate nicely on sensitive muscle groups or for people with a minimal pain threshold. In general, the ability-drill-formed tool was relaxed to maneuver and simply achieved pesky knots in my upper back. 

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three. Hypervolt with Bluetooth ($349)

percussion
(Photo: Courtesy Hyperice)

At ten inches very long, this design packs a mighty therapeutic massage into a compact style and design. It delivers superior percussion at three speeds and is no louder than a set of hair clippers, building it the quietest here. Although the two.five-pound product to begin with felt major, the weight lent just the appropriate total of pressure to the therapeutic massage without having any more effort. And like the Theragun, it syncs via Bluetooth with an application that, using knowledge from Apple Health and Strava, delivers advisable warm-up, restoration, and entire body-servicing routines. It receives smarter, too, with AI that learns your exercise session practices to supply customized massages. 

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4. Compex Fixx 1. Massager ($three hundred)

percussion
(Photo: Courtesy Compex)

Acknowledged for its muscle mass-stimulation equipment, Compex entered the therapeutic massage-gun activity in 2019 with the Fixx 1.. It is a superior lightweight alternative (1.7 kilos), with the ability and percussion of extra pricey models. The ergonomic tackle is straightforward to keep, the product runs at three speeds, and it includes a single attachment (two some others are offered for $30). The cheapest location primed my quads and calves, and the optimum helped me keep away from the dreaded future-day dead leg. But like the TimTam, the ability button is on the tackle, so it’s straightforward to swap off though using.

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five. Therabody Theragun Pro ($599)

percussion
(Photo: Courtesy Therabody)

The Theragun brings together robust ­percussion and a dizzying array of customization choices. It is a wonderful tool for really serious athletes—just becoming free of people relentless calf knots could justify the selling price tag. The product was relaxed to keep and did not lead to hand tiredness. The downside: it’s the loudest and heaviest of the team, at two.9 kilos.

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From Outdoors Journal, November 2020

Direct Photo: Hannah McCaughey

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