Percussive Therapy: Massage Gun Benefits You Should Know
Medically reviewed by: Dr. Ronald Mochizuki, MD
Whether you're an athlete, fitness instructor, desk worker, or manual laborer, your body probably craves massage from time to time (or, let's be honest, maybe every day). A massage gun can help you get this sweet release anytime, anywhere, through targeted percussive therapy.
But how does a massage gun work, exactly, and what are the benefits of using one regularly? Keep reading for a rundown of massage gun benefits, including how percussive therapy boosts athletic performance, recovery, mobility, circulation, and even longevity—and why you should have one in your arsenal.
What Is Percussive Therapy?
Percussive therapy is a type of massage therapy that uses some sort of motor-powered device, typically what's known as a massage gun. The method involves rapid up-and-down pulses—sometimes up to around 3,000 percussive taps per minute—to relieve muscle tension, reduce pain, and increase range of motion (among many, many other benefits).
How It Works
The rapid movement of the massage gun head sends quick, short bursts of pressure deep into muscle tissue while vibrating to loosen up stiff muscles, break up knots, and release tension in the body. It can also encourage blood flow, target trigger points, and offer pain relief in tender spots.
You can use a massage gun on yourself in certain areas of the body. But to get a good reach without straining at an awkward angle, you might want to have a loved one or trained professional hold the device while slowly moving it across your skin with light pressure.
The Science Behind Massage Guns
Professional-grade massage guns like the Power Plate Pulse have been shown to support good circulation throughout the body, reduce muscle tension, increase flexibility, boost athletic performance, and speed up recovery from intense physical activity and certain types of injuries.
Why Athletes and Therapists Use It
Percussive therapy is a go-to for athletes, who use it as part of their pre-workout warm-up and post-workout recovery routines. As mentioned, use of massage guns has been shown to enhance physical performance and accelerate muscle recovery.
Physical therapists often use percussive devices on their patients for these reasons, too. Think of it this way: If your body is a vehicle, then food is fuel, movement is the drive, and percussive therapy is the tune-up.
Key Benefits of Using a Massage Gun
Percussive therapy offers a long list of whole-body advantages. Just a handful of the most enticing percussion massager benefits include:
- Faster muscle recovery
- Improved blood circulation
- Pain relief and tension reduction
- Better range of motion and flexibility
-
Reduced stress and relaxation benefits
Keep scrolling for details.
Faster Muscle Recovery
One of the main reasons athletes and fitness enthusiasts reach for massage guns is that percussive therapy can help muscles recover after they've been fatigued. It can also help prevent or minimize soreness following a high-intensity workout or weight-training session, partly by driving out the lactic acid (or lactate) that builds up in muscle tissues during exercise.
Improved Blood Circulation
Percussive massage and vibration training also support blood circulation. This can reduce inflammation while delivering oxygen and nutrients to muscle tissues, helping prepare them for a workout or repair themselves after physical activity.
Pain Relief and Tension Reduction
By lowering inflammation in the body and targeting tight spots, percussive therapy can alleviate pain and reduce tension. This can give you relief from sore muscles following a tough workout or help with stiffness due to sitting at a desk all day or sleeping in a weird position that threw off your neck alignment.
Regardless of job and physical activity level, many people use massage guns to help manage chronic pain or joint discomfort.
Better Range of Motion and Flexibility
The rapid pulses and gentle, deep-tissue pressure of a massage gun can help loosen up tight muscles and reduce stiffness. As a result, you might have a better range of motion (how far or thoroughly you can move a joint or limb) and improved flexibility.
These benefits go beyond the gym, helping you tackle daily tasks and feel better overall in your day-to-day life.
Reduced Stress and Relaxation Benefits
When you're feeling stressed from work, a busy schedule, or whatever life is currently throwing your way, your body might respond by tensing up your muscles. Thanks a lot. Even when you're aware of this happening, relaxing your body can be easier said than done—but a massage gun can help.
Percussive massage therapy might help calm an overwrought nervous system while breaking up stiff muscle tissue, loosening knots, targeting trigger points, and helping you feel more at ease (mentally and physically).
Common Use Cases for Percussive Therapy
Massage guns are often used for post-workout recovery, injury prevention, and relieving everyday tension.
Post-Workout Recovery
This type of massage is particularly useful after exercise. The rapid pulses can release lactic acid, soothe inflammation in muscle tissues, and help with recovery by preventing delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS).
DOMS happens due to microscopic muscle tears that occur when doing a new exercise or more intense workouts, like using heavier weights or performing more reps than usual. (This is part of how you build muscle—as your body repairs the muscle fiber tears, the muscle grows bigger.) It's when soreness sets on up to three full days after a strenuous workout.
For more on this topic, see our guide to mastering muscle recovery with percussive massage.
Injury Prevention
Some research has shown that percussive massage helps prevent injury when used before or after exercise. The vibrational component can promote circulation and warm up muscles to prep them for movement and reduce the risk of strain or overexertion.
Meanwhile, the deep-tissue pulsing can alleviate stiffness following an intense sweat session, helping you avoid hurting yourself when doing other tasks.
Desk Workers and Everyday Users
Almost anyone can benefit from having a massage gun on hand. Whether you're a full-time office worker, caregiver, toddler parent, or frequent flyer with tension, misalignment, or posture issues, percussive therapy can be great for reducing stiffness in the lower back, neck, shoulders, and other tender areas.
How Power Plate Enhances Percussive Therapy
With researched-backed designs, thoughtful customization features, and powerful massage you can bring with you anywhere, Power Plate takes percussive therapy to the next level.
Introducing the Power Plate Pulse
Our most powerful model yet, the industry-leading Power Plate Pulse is a massage gun with six vibration intensity levels. It's incredibly effective yet compact, lightweight (about 20% lighter than your average massage gun), and remarkably quiet.
Designed with Precision and Comfort in Mind
The Pulse comes with six unique interchangeable head attachments to target all major muscle groups with precision. This easy-to-use handheld device also boasts ergonomic grip, allowing you to comfortably massage yourself or a partner without strain.
What's more, the long-lasting battery can run for up to six hours on a single charge and recharges quickly. The massage gun, attachment heads, and charger all fit in the included carrying case for streamlined storage and travel.
Trusted by Pros and Backed by Science
Power Plate vibration and percussive devices are trusted by physical therapy and sports medicine professionals and backed by science. Our Power Plate is an FDA-registered device.
Explore Power Plate's Recovery Tools
The benefits of percussive therapy range from muscle recovery and soreness prevention to increased circulation, range of motion, and relaxation.
Check out our professional-grade Pulse massage gun for percussive therapy you can use anytime, anywhere. Browse Power Plate's vibration plate collection for whole-body vibration training, along with other recovery-enhancing accessories and devices.
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