A regular massage is typically administered by a certified massage therapist. You can book the experience both at home or in-studio, but it tends to be costly. During a regular massage, therapists use their hands, fingers, and thumbs to glide, knead, and stretch—usually treating the whole body.

I recommend any massage guns that can get into a high-frequency, low-amplitude setting, which just means it has a high amount of vibration," says Mitro. When shopping around, you'll find options with varying speed settings, with options going as high as 3200 RPM (revolutions per minute). "It's always good to try it out before you buy it to make sure it can vibrate enough to do its job." Features Bill Peters, DPT, Doctor of Physical Therapy and founder of Pro Sports Performance Physical Therapy in Garden City, NY But she did note that a longer battery life and carrying case would have been appreciated. Although it’s a small and easily portable device, these factors make it less than convenient for on-the-go use.

You'll also want to pay attention to the features before buying a massage gun. More basic options may only have one or two heads and up to three speeds, whereas fancier models typically come with five or more attachments and several speed settings. Higher-end devices often have additional bells and whistles, like digital displays, Bluetooth connectivity, guided sessions, smart pressure sensors, or an auto-shutoff feature. If you plan to use your massage for travel, choosing one with great portability is important. Easily portable massage guns will be smaller and more lightweight, oftentimes coming with a handy carrying case. The Renpho Mini Massage Gun is perfect for on-the-go use because of its lightweight, compact nature and ergonomic carrying case. More Massage Guns to Consider Kuć J and Żendzian-Piotrowska M. (2020) A Pilot Study Evaluating the Prevalence of Cervical Spine Dysfunction Among Students of Dentistry at the Medical University. Front. Neurol. 11:200. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00200

Massage guns that provided rapid relief and decreased muscle soreness scored high on our list, along with products that were easy to use, ergonomic, versatile, and quiet. Those that didn’t make our list were bulky, noisy, inefficient, and provided little control—these massage guns missed the mark on one or more key attributes. Need something to bring on the go? The compact Theragun Mini measures 6 x 5 x 2 inches and weighs less than one and a half pounds. Though it only comes with the standard ball-head attachment, this travel-friendly massage gun offers percussive therapy with vibrations as fast as 2400 RPM. It also comes with a soft carrying case for easy transport.Also helpful for beginners, the massage gun includes an instruction booklet with how-to guides and graphics. “I like that it came with a carrying case,” our tester said. “The massage guns I already own don't come with a case, so having one makes for easy transport.” If you're more into relaxation than deep-tissue acupressure, consider the Flexir Recovery Lite. This massage fun offers three vibrational speeds ranging from 1750 to 3200 RPM and is designed to provide calming, therapeutic relief post-workout or after a long day on the job. It's also notably compact and weighs less than a pound, making it perfect for on-the-go use. If you’re going to be incorporating a massage gun into your routine, you want something that’s intuitive and easy to use. A quality device should have clear instructions for seamless operation. Some, like the Theragun Prime, even include app compatibility with how-to guides and instructional videos.

Both strenuous exercise and hours of sittingcan cause muscle tightness, soreness, and sometimes even pain. These symptoms may be a result of low oxygen levels and built-up lactic acid in the muscles, Wu says. A massage gun is not necessarily better than a regular massage—the two treatments are different, and both can deliver satisfying results. But it’s important to remember that a certified massage therapist will know precisely how much and where to apply pressure, whereas the average massage gun user will not.Percussive devices might help improve flexibility and offer stress relief. The idea is that by owning one, you can reap all of these benefits anytime, anywhere, either on your own or with the help of a partner. The device felt lightweight and easy to maneuver, according to our tester, who was also impressed with how quiet it is. Plus, this massage gun comes with a carrying case and long-lasting battery life, so you can take it on the go.

Using a massage gunwill not eliminate arthritis, but it can help to make the surrounding muscles stronger for better support to the joints, says Peters. “Massaging the surrounding muscle will increase blood flow to that area, and that blood carries nutrients, oxygen, and other things that can help alleviate some of the symptoms of arthritis.” The Opove massage gun is versatile for users of all levels, our tester said. “It had all the attachments that I needed for various body parts, and you can use it both on a low setting if you like a more gentle massage or on a higher setting, which is still strong enough for someone who likes deep tissue massage.” The device is also easy to use, quiet, and (most importantly) effective. Our tester loved that the device was lightweight and compact but still delivered powerful percussive therapy that helped to relieve sore and tight muscles. While training for a half marathon, our tester used (and greatly appreciated) the Theragun Mini Massager. “I felt noticeable relief of tension and tightness after use,” she said. “I am training for a half marathon and have had especially tight hips and hip flexors—the Theragun Mini has helped.”Vybe Pro Percussion Massage Gun: Our tester thought this device was user-friendly and effective in loosening tight muscles. But the noise level was obnoxiously loud and off-putting, they said.