An increasing number of patients are asking me whether massage guns are worth the investment.
As you may already be aware, a massage gun is a tool I use in my medical office. While evaluation and treatment by a healthcare provider is essential, if you’re looking for between-visit therapy, a massage gun for home use may be a great option.
What is a Massage Gun?
A massage gun, also called a percussive or percussion massager, is an electronic device used for soft-tissue manipulation.
Much like a regular massage, it works by applying pressure to your muscles.
Companies that sell the product claim it can relieve muscle tension and pain, speed post-workout recovery time, and increase blood flow to your muscles.
How Much Does a Massage Gun Cost?
A massage gun for consumers costs about $250 – $600. A professional massage gun can cost $2,000 – $5,000. There are also very cheap massage guns on Amazon for around $100. However, I’d be hesitant to recommend any massage gun in that lower price range, especially since we’re talking about your physical health.
Do Massage Guns Work?
Massage guns can help with a variety of conditions, which is why I use them in my own office.
Few studies have been done on massage guns specifically, but there have been studies on vibration therapy and deep oscillation massage. Both of these techniques can be applied with massage guns.
Here are a few conditions massage guns can help treat:
Workout recovery — There’s evidence that vibration therapy can help speed workout recovery. It’s been shown to reduce pain from delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), which is the soreness you may feel 24-28 hours after working out.
Lactic acid buildup — Massage guns can help suppress the increase of lactic acid in your muscles as well as release lactic acid from your muscles.
Fibromyalgia — A study on the safety of deep oscillation massage (which some massage guns do) for patients with Fibromyalgia found that patients experienced improvements in symptoms and quality of life after therapy.
When Should You Seek Chiropractic Care?
Even if your muscle pain goes away after at-home massage gun treatment, it doesn’t mean you’re cured of the underlying cause. It’s essential to treat the root cause of your pain. Otherwise, your pain is likely to return.
- If muscle pain isn’t relieved by a massage gun, I recommend you schedule a follow-up visit at my office.
- If your muscle pain returns after you experience initial relief with a massage gun, then you should come in for treatment as well.
Only a trained medical professional can diagnose your condition and prescribe the appropriate treatment. So, while massage guns are great for situations like post-workout recovery, they shouldn’t be used in place of a professional diagnosis.
Have you used a massage gun for post-workout recovery? Did it help? Let us know in the comments below.
Have You Ever Used a Massage Gun?
