Top 13 Benefits of Massage Gun to Accelerate Muscle Healing

After an intense workout, your muscles feel tight and fatigued. You may even experience soreness while performing everyday activities like walking or climbing stairs. One way of easing the discomfort and speeding up recovery is using a massage gun. Also referred to as percussion therapy devices, massage guns help relieve pain and improve muscle recovery by delivering rapid pressure bursts into the muscle tissue. In this blog, we’ll cover the numerous benefits of massage guns and how to use them effectively to enhance physical recovery, Best Recovery Tools for Athletes and overall well-being.

Pliability's mobility app offers valuable resources to help you get the most out of your massage gun. With guided routines, instructional videos, and pre-made templates to follow, you can relieve pain, improve mobility, and accelerate muscle healing for a healthier, more active lifestyle.

Is Using a Massage Gun Good for You?

A massage gun is a handheld device that delivers percussive therapy, rapid back-and-forth pressure, and vibration to ease tight muscles. It can also help muscles prepare for and cool down from workouts. The gun resembles a mini jackhammer with multiple attachments to customize the massage experience. 

Deep Tissue Impact

Massage guns differ from massage devices that only vibrate. With a massage gun, you get vibration on the outer layers of your skin while the massage head can put pressure and pulse on muscles deeper down. Besides massaging muscles directly, massage guns can loosen up tight fascia, the connective tissue that sits around muscles and bones. 

Neurological Effects & Customization

The movement affects your nerves and can stop the feeling of pain. The combination of the motion delivers a personalized massage, though the sensation can be quite different from a traditional massage with a massage therapist. The devices usually have many settings to customize the power and speed to suit your wants and needs. 

Variable Intensity & Historical Roots

You may want a lighter touch if you’re warming up for a workout or more pressure if you’re trying to massage a knot. Many devices come with a few attachments ideal for different muscle sizes, letting you tailor the massage even more. Percussive therapy dates back to ancient Greece. 

These devices have only become popular in the past several years. They’re no longer reserved for use at a physical therapist’s office – now just about anyone can purchase one.

What Are the Benefits of Massage Guns?

“When used properly, portable massage guns are generally safe and effective at delivering a literal quick hit of relief to the regions of your body where you carry stress, like your neck, shoulders and lower back,” says Gary Calabrese, DPT. “If you have underlying medical conditions, concerns or are actively recovering from an injury it is always best to consult your healthcare team.”

Post-Workout Relief

“You can use a massage gun whenever you’re looking to relieve some muscle tension, but it may be especially beneficial to use after a workout to promote recovery with reduced muscle soreness,” says Leada Malek, DPT, SCS, a sports physical therapist in San Francisco who’s board-certified through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists. 

Scientific Backing for Massage Guns

While Dr. Malek says the evidence is scant to link training benefits with massage guns conclusively, there is research to support the two modes of therapy that are behind the percussive massage treatment of massage guns. 

Those are:

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• Massage: A treatment in which your muscles are being kneaded and manipulated by another person
• Vibration therapy: Involves placing a vibrating device on certain body parts.

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Benefits of Massage and Vibration

“Massage can reduce tension in muscles and impact flexibility, reducing muscle stiffness, increasing blood flow, and decreasing muscle soreness,” Malek says. And there is some evidence that vibration therapy can have the same effect as massage therapy in limiting delayed onset muscle soreness (the tightness and achiness you feel a day or two after a challenging workout). 

Sounds great, right? Unfortunately, the tools themselves can be pricey, but when you add up the potential cost of regular visits to a massage therapist, it may be a worthwhile expense.

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13 Best Benefits of Massage Gun for Faster Muscle Recovery

1. Boosts Circulation: An Athlete's Secret Weapon

Good blood circulation is crucial for your health and optimal athletic performance. You can do several things to improve blood flow, and using a massage gun may be one of them. Massage guns apply a combination of percussion and vibration. Two small studies found that whole-body vibration therapy can raise blood flow. 

More studies are needed to see if local vibration from a massage gun can deliver comparable benefits to whole-body vibration therapy. But experts, including athletic trainers and physical therapists, believe massage guns can help:

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• Boost blood flow
• Lessen muscle pain
• Support post-workout recovery

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2. Eases Muscle Tension and Soreness: Finding Relief

The pressure and vibration from a massage gun may help relax tight muscles and ease pain. In a small study, bus drivers with lower back pain received ergonomic advice to make their workspace safe and comfortable. They also completed five weekly percussive therapy sessions using a Theragun. After three weeks, they had less back pain and better functional mobility. 

3. Reduces Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness: Rebound Faster

A massage gun might also soothe post-workout aches and pains. Delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is widespread among people who try new or more difficult workouts or return to exercise after a break. But it can happen to anyone, even professional athletes. In a review, researchers looked at 39 studies and found that using a massage gun right after a workout could lessen DOMS. 

4. Increases Flexibility and Range of Motion: Move Better

Increased blood flow and less muscle stiffness after using a massage gun could result in better flexibility and range of motion. A 2023 review found that massage guns can increase flexibility in hip and posterior chain muscles, such as the hamstrings and triceps. They may also improve the range of motion after exercise. 

5. May Enhance Athletic Performance: Get the Edge

Better flexibility and range of motion can boost your workout or sports performance. But research on how massage guns affect athletic performance is limited and mixed. According to the 2023 review, the wellness tool doesn’t improve strength, balance, or agility. Researchers concluded that massage gun use may even hurt performance in some cases. 

Another study found that massage guns enhanced range of motion but didn’t strengthen muscles. But a review of 13 studies found that percussive therapy from massage guns may cause temporary increases in muscle strength and flexibility. 

6. Stimulation of the Lymphatic System: Flush It Out

Lymphatic stimulation may also improve when using a massage gun. The lymphatic system is the third leg of your circulatory system. Arteries bring oxygen-rich blood to the tissue, veins bring deoxygenated blood back to the heart and lungs to pick up oxygen, and the lymphatics circulate interstitial fluid back to the heart to be reabsorbed into the blood. 

Massage gun therapy has the potential to stimulate lymph nodes, which in turn may help circulate the lymphatic fluids to areas of the body where they are needed. 

7. Improved Sports Performance and Muscle Mass: Recover Better

Many professional athletes (Tom Brady being a prime example) endorse and use percussion guns for the benefits we have discussed earlier. Both whole body and localized massage gun therapy have improved muscle mass and strength in older adults. Massage guns can improve:

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• Muscle endurance
• Increase power
• Kinesthetic awareness 

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Benefits of Percussive Therapy

The effects include decreased pain, improved muscle tone, range of motion, and circulation. Because massage guns are so effective, it is easier to:

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• Recover more quickly
• Train more consistently and consequently
• Perform better on the field, court, and pitch

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Performance Enhancement

Efficient blood circulation and soft tissue mobility enhancements offered by percussive therapy may help the body perform at a higher level. Any top performer athlete will tell you just how important it is to have a relaxed body before a big competition. 

8. Rehabilitation: Post Injury Care: Recover Safely

Percussion massagers are recommended for rehabilitation treatment. As physical rehabilitation specialists, we’ve seen this firsthand over many years: Massage gun therapy is highly recommended for rehabilitation treatment because it not only hastens recovery but can also prevent re-injury. 

Massage Guns in Therapy

Massage gun use during rehabilitation is supplementary to the standard methods of rehabilitation therapy. This is achieved via improved healing and recuperation of atrophied or damaged muscles caused by trauma or illness. The following are examples of conditions which are being treated more commonly using massage gun therapy:

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• Muscle soreness
• Sciatica
• Muscle cramps and spasms
• TMJ syndrome
• Nonspecific low back pack
• Shin Splints
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome 

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9. Facilitates Lactic Acid Release: Recover Faster

Every athlete or gym enthusiast will tell you how frustrating it can be when you are working out and suddenly feel tired, nauseated, and cramped. This intra- or post-workout unpleasantness occurs when there isn’t enough oxygen in the body’s muscles, essential to convert newly formed lactate into energy. 

As a result, lactic acid builds up faster than the body can burn it up. A massage gun can help dispel the extra lactic acid into the circulatory system and get you going again. This also has the potential to reduce DOMS that may happen later. 

10. Improved Mobility of Muscles / Pliability of Tissue: Stay Loose

Deep tissue massage provided by massage guns can help push out waste, improve blood circulation, and release tension. This, in turn, helps improve tissue metabolism. This healthy exchange aids in preventing injuries and hastens tissue repair. Improved tissue health will support more regular exercise, which will typically lead to improved flexibility.

Massage guns are also frequently used while stretching to help improve the depth of the stretch, potentially improving muscle and joint flexibility.

11. Supports Muscle Recovery: Get Back to Training

Professional massage therapy and a massage gun can help with muscle recovery. The tool has been shown to jumpstart post-workout recovery by boosting blood flow, reducing muscle stiffness, and easing soreness. Some research suggests that massage guns help break down lactic acid that builds up in muscle cells during vigorous exercise. 

That’s important because lactic acid may contribute to muscle fatigue. But the reduction may be minor. 

12. Injury Prevention: Stay in the Game

Massage guns can prevent injury by increasing muscle temperature, which increases pliability and flexibility. This accelerates warm-up and recovery and contributes to reduced injury risk. Massage guns can also be used before a workout to wake up the muscles as a warm-up. 

Massage gun therapy as a warm-up ensures that your muscles have enough oxygen and activation before starting exercise.

13. Helps Manage Scar Tissue: Heal Faster

Professional massage therapy may limit pain and thickness in burn scars. Percussive treatment also helps with scar tissue because it uses some of the same mechanics as massage therapy. But there’s a need for more research to support this claim.

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The Difference Between Massage Guns and Other Muscle Recovery Options

Massage guns do similar things as massage, but the way they do it is different, Malek says. They offer a similar effect to foam rolling and massage. Which you choose may depend on personal preference. Foam rolling uses myofascial release to decrease muscle tension. Fascia is the connective tissue surrounding:

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• Muscles
• Blood vessels
• Nerves

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For various reasons, fascia can get tight, even inflamed. When that happens, your ability to move can be hampered. Yet the gentle to moderate sustained pressure you apply with a foam roller can help tight areas of the body relax or release, Malek says. 

Massage Guns vs. Stretching

Malek says you might get similar effects by holding a massage gun to one area, but it doesn’t qualify as myofascial release because of its rapid, percussive nature. Static stretching, on the other hand, uses slow, sustained stretches on a muscle to promote relaxation and reduce feelings of muscle tightness. Like foam rolling, it has more research to support its benefits, Malek says. 

Myofascial Release and Alternative Methods

(Note that this effect tends to be the case post-workout, but not typically as part of a pre-workout warmup.) For some people, stretching may be more relaxing because of the nonpercussive impact on the muscle, Malek says. And because you don’t need equipment, it’s more convenient.

Are There Risks of Using a Massage Gun?

Massage guns are generally safe, but there are some risks associated with using them. Many risks come from improper or excessive use. For instance, applying a massage gun to a sprain might worsen the injury. And using too much pressure on painful areas may cause pain to flare up even more. 

Potential Risks and Complications

Other risks include muscle pain or discomfort and nerve or skin irritation. In one extreme case, a woman who received percussion therapy developed severe rhabdomyolysis, a serious condition related to damaged skeletal muscle fibers. The study points out that the patient had untreated anemia, which may have been a risk factor. 

In another case, a man with glaucoma used a massage gun around his eye. This resulted in a dislocated lens.

Specific Injury Warnings

People with underlying conditions should consult a healthcare professional before using a massage gun. If you already have a massage gun or want one now that you know the possible benefits, you should consult an expert before using it. Talk with a physical or massage therapist to learn how to use your massage gun safely and effectively. 

Professional Consultation Recommended

Then, you can decide how to add your massage gun to your wellness routine. Some people like using the tool to warm up their muscles before a workout. Others grab it after exercise to aid muscle recovery. But you don’t have to wait for your next gym visit to try your massage gun. You can also use it to help soothe muscle soreness or tension. 

Usage and Routine Integration

You can use a massage gun up to 3 times a day. Try spending 10 to 15 seconds on each targeted muscle group per area before moving to another spot. Rather than holding the massage gun in one place, keep it moving around the targeted area. Avoid moving it over bones, joints, and injured areas. 

Safe Application Guidelines

And never apply a massage gun anywhere on or above your neck. The amount of pressure you use with the massage gun is up to you. You should never push so hard that you feel pain. If your skin turns red, it’s time to take a break. Staying in one spot for too long can lead to bruising and tenderness.

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