For starters, a muscle massage gun is a powerful device designed to give you deep percussive massages. And the hype around it has been growing steadily in recent years.
These days, you can find it in the arsenals of gym rats and remote work heroes alike. So, is it really your next all-around performance hack like what people say? In this article, we’ll walk through what it really brings to your self-care routine.
What can a muscle massage gun do for you?
Massage guns have the capacity to affect your body’s processes at a fundamental level. That said, it has a knack for influencing performance on many fronts.
It gets you workout-ready
A massage gun helps your muscles blow away the cobwebs. With effects akin to that of dynamic stretches, it starts by stimulating your blood flow.
This starts a chain reaction that gets your body going. As your blood flow increases, so does your body temperature. This allows more oxygen to your muscles, boosting your endurance. In the process, your blood vessels also dilate, putting less strain on your heart.
Simultaneously, the percussion massage eliminates any remaining stiffness, helping you limber up. Your muscles then relax and proceed to perform better. In 15 minutes or less, you’re all set for a more satisfying workout.
It reduces your injury risk
A massage gun also stimulates your muscles in ways that reduce injury risk. Its percussion massage improves your flexibility and range of motion, giving you more control over your movements. This cuts down your chances of pulling a muscle or spraining a joint.
There will also be moments where you decide to push yourself a little harder. And that will make it easy to overwork your muscles.
Keep a massage gun near you to refresh your muscles mid-workout. It will likewise help alleviate your muscle strains right after, avoiding cumulative damage.
It takes care of your muscle recovery
From deep cleaning your apartment to crushing your weight training session, intense physical activity can make you sore. And not being able to function properly afterwards can be agonizing.
A muscle massage gun is a proven solution for reducing soreness. Research finds that it’s on-par with traditional massage at treating Delayed Onset of Muscle Soreness (DOMS). That’s due to its effectiveness at immediately triggering healing and pain relief.
A massage gun can also resolve muscle knots and tightness. After intense physical activity, you may feel these painful areas of muscle tension. And the sooner it’s gone, the sooner you can go back to optimal performance and recovery.
It boosts your metabolism and immune system
The aforementioned muscle knots hold you back beyond your mobility. Because when your muscles are tight, they could be squeezing important pathways in your body.
One of these important pathways is your lymphatic system. With less muscle tension in its way, it flushes out waste and toxins more efficiently. That said, a deep tissue massager can actually hold an important role in keeping it running smoothly.
What this means, is that your body can develop antibodies and break down fat faster. As a result, you get added protection against both infections and weight gain.
It helps you relax and sleep better
To properly recover your mind and body, you must enter a genuinely restful state. And you simply can’t have any tension or discomfort distracting you while recharging. Here’s where the massage gun’s stress-relieving abilities come in.
As it strips you of muscle soreness and tension, your nervous system calms down. To top it all off, a massage gun can also help ease anxiety and insomnia. So the next time you feel overwhelmed or restless, a particularly good one might serve you well.
Believe it or not, a deep tissue massager nowadays can be nearly as quiet as a whisper. And using a device like this would be perfect for the objective.
Is it as good as seeing a massage therapist?
In a handful of cases, yes. They’re both capable of applying the right kind of pressure with the right amount and consistency. But their similarities stop there.
It’s only as good as how you use it
Having full control with a massage gun can be a double-edged sword. Many therapists won’t know the exact pressure and intensity you prefer. But if you understand your body well, you can find your own sweet spot with a massage gun.
What massage guns can’t do on their own, however, is know where they shouldn’t be. They can’t detect underlying conditions that you’re not aware of, either. And if you’re not careful, you might do yourself more harm than good.
Taking precautions and professional advice is key
Your therapist has the expertise to catch inflammations, fractures, and other serious issues. They can also advise you further on any condition that would need you to avoid certain activities – including massages.
Moreover, many therapists actually incorporate massage guns in their own sessions. They can offer you great advice on how to use one at home.
On a final note
A muscle massage gun gives you unprecedented access to a range of benefits. And you don’t have to fit a certain mould to benefit from one. If you want less things holding you back in optimizing your lifestyle, massage guns are definitely for you.
They will have their inherent limitations. But with the right knowledge and guidance, you can harness their full potential to make your life better.
