Best Percussion Massage Gun for Rest and Recovery

Rest and recovery has becomes an essential part of any training plan. Ask any seasoned athlete or gym goers out there, and they'll delight you with all the benefits of proper muscle relief and recovery. Inevitably, massage guns have become one of the buzziest fitness tools currently on the market.

Why a Massage Gun?

Massage guns are an ideal alternative to the foam roller for muscle recovery. Think of it as getting a massage therapy, but at the comfort of your own home. That means you can use your massage gun before you work out to warm up your muscles, or post workout, to reduce tightness and soreness in your muscles.

Essentially, massage guns are a form of percussive therapy, achieved when they produce quick pulses that mimic an actual massage. These pulses, felt more as vibrations, are targeted towards the specific sore muscles for a number of reasons. They not only help the muscles to relax but also improve your recovery after a work out, as well as preventing Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness. A surge in blood flow to the specific soft tissues ensures there is lactic acid does not accumulate in your muscles, hence keeping DOMs-as it is commonly refereed to as-at arm's length.

Here are the best percussion massagers on the market for your workout recovery.

1.Exerscribe VYBE Percussion Massage Gun Pro

Vybe Pro Muscle Massage Gun for Athletes - 9 Speeds, 8 Attachments -...
  • RELIEVES MUSCLE SORENESS: This handheld massager is perfect to iron out muscle knots before or after a workout sesh and helps to get...
  • ADJUSTABLE SPEED: With 9 different speed settings (3200 percussions per minute) and 8 attachments at your disposal, our back massagers allow...
  • QUIET & COMPACT: If you are looking for a quiet body massager, look no further! Our mini massage gun applies up to 33 lbs of soothing...
  • CONVENIENT TO CARRY: Our portable muscle massage gun charges quickly, yields about 3 hours of battery life, and comes with a carrying case...
  • GREAT GIFT: The compact percussion massager will easily slip into most gym bags and makes a perfect gift for any strength training...

This percussion gun is a great example that you don't need to spend a hefty sum to get plenty of the benefits that come with a higher priced massage gun. The Vybe Pro is certainly our best budget pick, for not only its price point but also the level of functionality available.

It weighs only 2.5 pounds, delivering up to 30 pounds of force, both deep percussion and strong pressure, before the motor stalls. It comes with 9 different speed settings, along with 8 different head attachments, to ensure that you can get to each specific muscle group. Right out of the box, there are two interchangeable and rechargeable batteries that can last for a decent 3 hours.

Despite its lower-end price point, the Vybe Pro is definitely a solid choice. Noise, at 60 dB, is arguably the most significant drawback on this massage gun, since it can get pretty loud.

Pros

  • Vast range of speeds and attachments.
  • Deep percussive therapy.
  • Interchangeable rechargeable batteries.

Cons

  • Quite loud.
  • Uneven weight distribution.

2. TheraGun Pro

Sale
TheraGun Pro - Handheld Massage Gun - Athlete Approved Bluetooth...
  • Athlete Approved: Handheld Percussion massage gun by industry leader Therabody, designed for optimal deep tissue and muscle soreness relief....
  • Top Ranked Massage Gun: Bluetooth enabled, with six easy-to-clean Theragun attachments, and QuietForce Technology providing elite yet silent...
  • Ergonomic Design: Patented Theragun Triangle ergonomic handle allows for the most flexible positioning while reducing stress on the wrists,...
  • Therapy Tool: Full body pain relief through customizable speed range controlled by our App via Bluetooth, providing the right speeds for all...
  • Industry Leader: Therabody's mission is to provide you with the effective natural solutions you need to take charge of your daily wellness....

TheraGun is widely considered to be the pioneer of massage guns and related products. The G3Pro is their top-of-the-range option, and for valid reasons.

It comes with 6 head attachments, as well as an adjustable arm, making it suitable for focusing on any part of the body effectively, regardless of the user's height. It can handle up to 60 pounds of force without stalling. It comes with 2 rechargeable batteries, each with a battery life of around 75 minutes, that can be used interchangeably.

TheraGun Pro is a powerful massage gun, which unfortunately translates to a loud device, at 70-75 dB. Consequently, it might not be the best gadget to bring in public cases. But if you have to carry it, you do get a dandy carrying case. On top of that, there is also a nifty interactive app that helps with planning your percussive therapy.

Pros

  • Great massage versatility.
  • Top quality construction.
  • Powerful.

Cons

  • A tad louder than your average massage gun.
  • Paltry battery life.

3. TheraGun Elite

Sale
Theragun Elite - Handheld Electric Massage Gun - Bluetooth Enabled...
  • Elite Massage Gun: Theragun Elite developed by industry leader Therabody, provides deep muscle relaxation and pain relief. Handheld and...
  • Personalized Wellness: With 5 attachments and 5 speeds, your device has the power to massage any area like a pro. Bluetooth enabled muscle...
  • Percussive Therapy: Ultra quiet with advanced sound insulation and premium design. Melt away your tension and empower your reovery with...
  • Ergonomic Comfort: Patented Theragun Triangle ergonomic handle allows deep tissue pain relief with flexible positioning while reducing...
  • Industry Leader: Therabody's mission is to provide you with the effective natural solutions you need to take charge of your daily wellness....

If you are looking for a smart percussion massager, TheraGun Elite is arguably the best fit for you. This sleek gadget comes with five different head attachments, Bluetooth connectivity, an OLED screen and a whooping 2-hour battery life. Unlike other massage guns featured on this list, this product gives you the ability to choose your own speed settings, where you can customize the speed range for specific muscle groups. You accomplish all this from the convenience of a complementary app, giving you a range between 1750 to 2400 percussions per minute.

It comes with up to 40 pounds of stall force. In contrast to other TheraGun percussion massage guns, the Elite is much more quiet, at only 53 dB. You also get a power adapter and a carrying case for those who intend to move around with their device-which is fairly easy since it only weighs 2.2 pounds

Pros

  • Custom speed settings.
  • Sleek high-tech design.
  • OLED screen.

Cons

  • Quite loud.
  • App is not optimized.

4. Sonic LX Percussion Massage Gun

This is yet another terrific product from LifePro's Sonic handheld percussion massage gun line-up. It is designed with customizability in mind, featuring 9 intensity levels and 7 different massage heads.

The Sonic LX is capable of producing between 1800 and 3400 percussions per minute, holding a candle to almost every other massage gun featured on this list. It comes with a 50-pound stall force, which helps you to really target specific muscles effectively. Weighing only 2.3 pounds, this lightweight massage gun is quite snug in the hand, and very comfortable to use. In addition, a large button makes it easy to tweak around the settings.

Compared its competitors, the battery life on the Sonic LX is remarkable, lasting up to 4 hours when fully charged. It is also relatively quieter, producing only 55 dB of noise.

Pros

  • Several speed settings and head attachments.
  • Powerful and effective.
  • Large button design.

Cons

  • Less ergonomic.
  • Quite heavy.

5. TimTam Power Massager Pro

TimTam Handheld Percussion Deep Tissue Power Massager Pro for Full...
  • POWERFUL MASSAGER GUN: Ideal for targeting muscle groups that need recovery in just 30 seconds gain the benefits of percussion massage...
  • 5 PRE-PROGRAMMED SETTINGS: Designed with 5 pre-programmed settings including warm-up, recovery with neck and lumbar specifically designed to...
  • MULTI-SPEED SETTINGS: 3 deep tissue speed settings: 1,000, 2,000, and 2,800 strokes per minute; Features an ultra-quiet 10 DB operation at...
  • AUTOMATIC HEAT INFUSION: Drive heat deep into muscle tissue at the optimal temperature with the automatic heated tip
  • SPECIFICATIONS: 175-degree rotational head for easy one-handed use; Provides 1 hour of cord-free massaging; Includes battery charger,...

If you are someone who prefers an intense deep tissue massage, the TimTam Power Massager Pro is certainly a product you should consider. For starters, it is surprisingly light in weight, at just 2 pounds and quieter-only 25dB- than most massage guns on the market. Furthermore, it is remarkably powerful, so much so that the manufacturers opine it relieves muscle soreness in just 30 seconds!

It comes with an adjustable arm, a 175-degree rotating head, eight speed settings and two powered attachment heads. This translates to an exceptional 75-pound stall force, perfect for deep aggressive therapy. Also among its novel features is an auto-heating tip and a vibration attachment. Therefore, you get two additional relieving elements from the same device.

The only significant downside to the TimTam Power Massager Pro is the battery life, lasting around an hour on a single charge.

Pros

  • Vast adjustability.
  • Extremely powerful.
  • Lightweight.

Cons

  • Quite pricey.
  • One standard speed setting.

What Should You Look for in the Best Massage Gun

1. Noise

Massage guns are powered by motors. It comes as no surprise that these devices are quite noisy. They can get quite loud and unpleasant, especially when you are massaging your neck and shoulder muscles. Ideally, this is something you can always get adjusted to, over time. But some of the massage guns out there are loud enough to annoy other people if you are having your therapy in a public space, say at the gym. Fortunately, all the massages guns featured on this list are new models, which come with reduced motor noise.

2. Stall Force

Stall force refers to the amount of pressure that can be applied to a massage gun head before the motor stalls. So, what is a motor stall? In this context, a motor stall refers to a state where the motor can no longer rotate the attachment head since the amount of load torque required is more than the motor can produce. This means deep tissue massage, or more intense therapy requires a higher stall force to get the job done.

3. Material

Like any other product you buy out there, it is always reassuring when it's well-engineered and reliable at its job. You shouldn't worry that a massage gun will malfunction midway through your muscle therapy, especially when you are using it on an injury. Therefore, it would only be sensible to go for a massage gun that has a solid quality build. The best way to go about this is to invest in a legitimate brand that has high quality standards. Not only do you get a high-functioning device but also a product that will more than likely stand the test of time. It is equally worth noting that the better the construction, the higher the price point. So, if you really want the best massage gun on the market, you must be ready to spend a bit more on the higher side.

4. Weight

Typically, massage guns are handheld devices, which makes their weight an essential factor to consider. As such, you need a massage gun that can be held firmly and securely on the targeted muscles, even when it's running on its highest settings. A light weight machine gun also means portable; you simply toss it in your bag and off you go.

5. Customizability

A massage gun always comes with a couple of attachment heads. Some also include the capability to adjust the head angle. These two elements that can be adjusted, either for the kind of massage therapy you enjoy or the specific muscles that you'll be targeting. Therefore, when you are looking out for the best percussive massage gun, it would be important to check, double-check and triple-check its customizability depending on the intended use.

6. Battery Life

Same way you wouldn't want a massage gun to malfunction in the middle of therapy, you similarly don't want your battery to go flat. The best massage guns can go for several sessions on just a single charge. Alternatively, it should come with a set of rechargeable batteries that you can swap around when one runs out of juice.

Frequently Asked Questions about Massage Guns

1. How do percussive massage guns help sore muscles?

This is achieved through vibration therapy. The percussions, as a result of the vibrations, apply quick bouts of pressure on the muscle tissue. What this does, it increases blood flow to the hyper-targeted area, thus minimizing muscle tension and inflammation. This also includes breaking up knots that tend to form in your muscle tissue, mostly after an intense workout.

That said, massage guns do not completely get rid of muscle soreness, but rather help to ease it.

2. Which massage gun head should I use?

It depends on the particular kind of massage you are going for. Normally, a big round head attachment is used on large muscle groups, such as quadriceps, glutes or hamstrings, mainly because of a bigger surface area. A small ball head is generally used for all-round muscle therapy across the body. Some massage guns are equipped with a flat head attachment, mostly suited for smaller targets and denser muscles, like in between your shoulder blades.

A bullet-shaped attachment works best with muscle soreness in small target areas. But you need to be extra keen with this attachment since the pressure is concentrated across a small area. Finally, there is also a two-prong massage head, specifically designed to target areas on your spine, which also needs to handled cautiously .

3. Can massage guns cause any kind of harm?

Just like any other piece of equipment, if you don't use a massage gun correctly, there's always a likelihood that you can hurt yourself. A majority of experts recommend that you shouldn't massage a specific target area for more than two minutes at a time. It is just as essential to ensure that you only massage soft muscle tissue. This means keeping away from bones, tendons, ligaments or the back of your neck.

Additionally, if you have a wound or injury on the target muscle, it is not advisable to massage the area. Increased blood circulation can easily result in swelling an inflammation further, rather than minimizing it. Finally, you shouldn't use a massage gun on an area that has reduced sensation, since you can't really tell if you are exacerbating the situation rather than improving it. 

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