$54.99 reg $119.99. Plus, we found it easy to use, set up, and to attach the different attachments it came with. When testing, we liked how lightweight the device was. Number of attachments: five (ball, bullet, cushion, flat, fork). How often you use a massage guna few times a day, once a day, once in a blue moondepends on your specific goals, needs, and tolerance. Many dermatologists also recommend face massager as it heals up the skin and gives out a natural look. We used each massage gun in daily settings to assess its noise level. *At the time of publishing, the price was $200. The Opove M3 Pro Max packs a wallop, but its on the bulkier side and lacking in polish. You need to listen to your body and back off percussion massaging. We love that the brushless motor contains QuietForce Technology that keeps this massage gun pretty quiet while in use without losing power. $129.99. Sharing with you loves my personal TMJ Relief Routine for the Masseter & Temporalis Muscles using a Percussion Massager in just 10 MIN!I LOVE doing this at n. We didnt need to charge it once during our three-plus weeks of testing. Well update this review with our findings. Massage Guns Skin Care Device Sleep Tinctures Massage Balls & Rollers Compression Boots TENS & NMES Devices Open-Box Devices Recovery Devices Guide. If youd like to try a massage gun but are unsure if its a good option for you, talk to your doctor or a medical professional. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. You cannot cycle both up and down through the five speeds (in contrast to the Theragun Primes interface, which allows for that); instead, each touch of the screens fingerprint icon advances the speed up. The selection includes two shapes that we dont always see: shovel (a blade-like silhouette that can work the length of a muscle) and cushion (which provides a softer, more muted massage). Next, turn the massage gun on before it makes contact with your body, and choose a speed (the general recommendation is to start at the lowest setting and work up). Powerful, with a multi-grip handle: Therabody Theragun Prime, Angled handle, good value: Ekrin Athletics B37, Low-key massage, lots of attachments: Mebak 3, Strong percussion, but a bulky package: Opove M3 Pro Max, Lower-price, entry-level massager: HoMedics Therapist Select Percussion Massager, manual massage (using the hands only) helps decrease pain and improve function, appeared under every players seat in the NBA bubble in 2020, A less-intense massage, but plenty of attachments, HoMedics Therapist Select Percussion Massager, A more affordable massager with an approachable feel, Homedics Therapist Select Percussion Massager, car buffer gave nearly as satisfying a massage as the then-$600 Theragun, amplitude, percussions per minute (ppm), and stall force, official recovery technology partner of the NBA, Sportneer Elite D9 Percussive Massage Gun, sports medicine specialist and clinical associate of orthopaedic surgery and rehabilitation medicine at University of Chicago Medicine, dean of the massage therapy program at the Swedish Institute College of Health Sciences and New York Statelicensed massage therapist, licensed physical therapist and board-certified orthopedic clinical specialist at UC San Diego Health, science journalist and author of Good to Go: What the Athlete in All of Us Can Learn from the Strange Science of Recovery, Expert Advice for Treating Back Pain at Home. Youll notice three terms typically mentioned within massage gun specs: Most massage guns come with a variety of interchangeable attachments that allow you to target particular muscles or deliver a particular kind of massage. 3 offers from $34.99. 2016 Aug;28(3):335-49. doi: 10.1016/j.coms.2016.03.004. Best Theragun deal right now: Theragun Pro, $449 (regularly $599) The TheraFace Pro is more than just a massage gun. He suggests beginning along the front of your arm moving up and down the bicep area. These devices promise to amp up a home massage and soothe your body by melting away knots, increasing circulation, decreasing muscle pain and soreness, and reducing inflammation, among other claims. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Find more information in the About Us section. If you are experiencing joint pain, injury, acute muscle pain, or other musculoskeletaldisorders, make sure to get clearance from your doctor before using a massage gun. The massage gun comes with just one attachment (a hard ball), and it has the lowest continuous battery life (40 minutes) among our test group. It has a decent warranty (two years), and the neck can move into three different positions. If the ability to give yourself a muscle-pummeling massage sounds appealing, a massage gun might be for you. While there are many great uses for traditional massage guns, facial massage is not one of them, and should be avoided entirely for safety. The percussion gets you that rush of blood and separation of congestion in the muscle fibers very quickly.. The Theragun Prime promises two hours of battery life, and in our tests it went the distance. If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. (People with smaller hands might appreciate the size.) Please refer to ourPrivacy & Affiliate Policyfor details. Our testers then rated each massage gun on a scale of 1 (would not recommend) to 5 (highly recommend) in the categories of effectiveness, comfort, ease of use, stall force, portability, and value. It has a comfortable oval handle with a nice grippy surface and the second-narrowest diameter among our picks. But though its attachments stayed secure during use, our unit rattled, a result of the attachment connection point shifting ever so slightly from side to side within the device. a Target Plus partner. This massage guns specs do not list a stall force, but the device does have a pressure sensor (represented by a display of five LED lights). She considers it an essential part of her training program. They do this by producing vibrations that are applied to the skin with the help of a massage gun head. The Mebak 3 promises two to three hours of battery life, and in our tests it lived up to that billing. See our ethics statement. We tried 17 of them to determine which ones give the best. The Sportneer Elite D9 has an impressive battery life of up to six hours. Homedics Cordless Shiatsu Massage Cushion with Heat. $423 at Amazon. We gave the massage gun a perfect score for stall force, ease of use, and portability. Again, be careful to never press the attachment itself against the spine. It features five speed settings and four head attachments, from flat to cylinder, and Renpho promises a torque thats 1.5 times higher than competitorswhich means a lower likelihood of stalling. The handleone of the slimmest among the models in our test groupis rounded at the bottom, a design that we found comfortable to grip. Seventeen testersincluding a certified personal trainer, a certified barre instructor, and a certified yoga teacherused each massage gun at least four times: Once before and after an upper-body workout and once before and after a lower-body workout for 3-5 minutes a session. One might appeal to you if you feel the effects of hunching over a phone or computer regularly or any other work-related aches and pains; if you face chronic tight spots, sore muscles, or other soft-tissue complaints; or if you simply love the sensation of a massage, a massage chair, or other massage-oriented gadgets. Best Massage Gun For Travel: Hypervolt Go 2. These devices can also cost a pretty penny. For most self-massage applications, the AmazonBasics High-Density Round Foam Rollergets the job done. Weight is important because you have to hold the unit in your hand and be in a position to have the massage gun hit your tissues, Dr. Wu says. It's why so many professional athletes are fans of massage guns. Those are less powerful and probably wont hurt my face, right?. The Theragun Prime offers powerful percussion in a compact package with a triangular, multi-grip handle. It comes with four head attachments and a smart app that was very helpful with initial setup and even provides how-to video guides. Other research has found that vibration therapy can have a positive effect on the nervous system and help prevent delayed-onset muscle soreness. We looked for a variety of attachments, which helps you access a diversity of muscles more easily and comfortably. It has a one-year warranty and comes with a carrying case. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, we may receive an affiliate commission, at no extra cost to you. Homedics. The device feels premium in the hand, and is designed with great attention to detail. 3.4 and below: We don't recommend massage guns with this rating; you won't find any on our list. The OG TheraGun Elite 4th Generation. Massage guns have grown especially popular among athletes (and weekend warriors) of all levels. Instead of breaking out the big guns, we recommend trying some gentle options using your hands. For those willing to invest in their skin care routine, we recommend the new TheraFace PRO for a premium all-in-one massage + facial device. If you're looking for a quieter massage gun, Clampett believes two . A low battery can impact its performance and intensity, so you may need to plan ahead and make sure you have a full charge before using the device. Accompanying the M3 Pro Max are five attachments: three made of plastic (bullet, flat, fork), one made of light foam (ball), and one made of a soft, rubbery material (cushion). Only a few small studies have been done, such as one exploring the effects of percussive massage on athletic performance (Theragun provided the equipment for that study) and another discovering that five minutes of pummeling calf muscles increased range of motion (the study used a Hyperice Hypervolt). Key Specs:Noise: Not provided | Stall Force: Not provided | Weight: 1.5 pounds | Customizability: 2 head attachments | Battery Life: 3 hours. Cocoon Wellness Spa Amsterdam: Amazing! The very most basic level of recovery is just rest and rejuvenation, and anything that facilitates that is good, said Aschwanden. Meanwhile, light therapy refers to shining red or blue LED light onto the skin to reduce wrinkles and address acne. When choosing a massage gun, take into consideration your personal noise tolerance, the device's stall forcewhich is how much pressure you can apply before it shuts offthe gun's weight and shape, and customizing options such as multiple speed selections and head attachments for hitting different muscle groups, so you're receiving targeted benefits. With adjustable speed settings and head attachments, Ekrin's B37 offers complete customization. The motors that power massage guns can be surprisingly loud, so it can be a rather unpleasant experience to use them on neck and shoulder muscles. The Opove M3 Pro Max promises a four-hour battery life; we did more than three weeks worth of testing on one charge. Graff-Radford SB, Abbott JJ. Best Value Massage Gun of 2023 Which One Is Worth Its Weight In Green Paper? For some background on one major brand, I chatted with Jim Huether, CEO of Hyperice. Its not surprising that Therabody is tacking on these particular treatments to its facial massager. But we didnt like the attachments: Though cheerful (one is a round, yellow smiley face), they felt cheap and a little silly, and we had a few issues with specific ones popping out during use. All Rights Reserved, By submitting your email, you agree to our. It can increase circulationbut so can taking a walk (as Aschwanden pointed out). It depends on the type of massage you're after. There are several different facial massage types and techniques that you can do on your own or with a professional. Best . But overall it felt plasticky, and our struggles with the adjustment dial threw us off. At this point you might be thinking: What about a miniature massage gun? The Mebak 3 has a main on/off switch at the base of its handle, which is rubberized and has widely spaced vertical ribs. But the experience was pleasant, and this massage gun does the job for significantly less than the Theragun Prime. Isabella Broggini is a health writer and editor, NASM-certified personal trainer, and fitness nutrition specialist. The one-button control is convenient for turning on the device and increasing its speed, but note that after reaching maximum speed, the next push of the button returns the speed to level 1 instead of shutting it off completely. Its 7 mm amplitude is the lowest of our picks, too. The B37 turns off automatically after 10 minutes of use, a measure that a customer service rep told us protects the motor from burnout in case the B37 is accidentally left running unattended. LED lights on the display show both the speed and the battery level. Sold and shipped by Wasserstein. The devices noise level was in the middle of what we experienced across our test group, and it made simultaneous TV watching a challenge but not an impossible task. To determine if continuous use would stress the motor at all, we ran the massage gun unattended for 15 minutes straight at various speeds, and we experienced no overheating. Theragun is a powerhouse in the massage gun market, and after testing the brand's most popular massage gun models, the Theragun Prime was our favorite. $199 $179. Handheld Massage Equipment. We also gave each massage gun an overall rating which reflects whether or not we would recommend it to a friend or family member. Dont worry, you can still significantly reduce muscle tension in your face by performing manual facial massage. All of our picks come with a basic owner manual that at least recommends which attachments to use on which areas of the body. Like the Theragun, the TheraFace Pros main schtick is percussive massage. Its a good massage gun, but it lacks a few features that the Theragun Prime has. Its worth noting that there are some other major players in jaw tension and headaches, but because those muscles are internal (inside the mouth), we wont talk about them here. Connectivity: A few of the massage guns we tried (those from Addaday, Hyperice, and Therabody) have Bluetooth connectivity, which allows the devices to communicate with a companion app on a phone or tablet. Its grippy handleangled at about 15 degreesmade reaching for our upper back or calves a little easier. Can a $30 Car Buffer Soothe Sore Muscles As Well As the $600 Theragun. Most Powerful Massage Guns: When the Mighty Lock Horns, Best Budget Massage Gun The Cheapest But Still Good Options. The massage gun weighs 2.5 pounds, so its not the lightest but not the heaviest on our list. While these three didn't make our top picks list, the devices did have some note-worthy features worth mentioning. Learn more. Clockwise from top right: round, bullet, fork, cushion, shovel, flat, and bump. It has a one-year warranty. Quality that lasts. The process should not be painful. A good massage gun has slow speeds for sensitive muscles and fast speeds for hardy ones. Because the Theragun Prime is Bluetooth enabled, you can pair it with a phone and control its speed through the Therabody app, which allows you to make granular adjustments between the preprogrammed speeds on the device. Show Out of Stock Items. Learn more. The body felt plasticky. Controls: We looked for intuitively placed control buttons that we could access easily during a session (ideally with one hand). We gave the Theragun Mini Massager a perfect score for effectiveness, ease of use, stall force, portability, and value. Best splurge: Theragun Pro, $429. This massage gun can help you recover and relax after playing a professional sport for a long time. 2012 Sep-Oct;21(5):681-5. The USB charging port design helps you keep it powered up while on the go as well. To get a better sense of how massage guns affect the body, I spoke with Christopher Hicks, MD, a sports medicine specialist at Northwestern Medicine; Ericka Clinton, dean of the massage therapy program at the Swedish Institute College of Health Sciences and a New York Statelicensed massage therapist; Jason Hooper, DPT, a licensed physical therapist and board-certified orthopedic clinical specialist at UC San Diego Health; and Christie Aschwanden, science journalist and author of Good to Go: What the Athlete in All of Us Can Learn from the Strange Science of Recovery. The button is a bit stiff and makes an audible click when pressed. To find the best massage guns on the market, we tested 32 massage guns both in the Verywell Testing Lab under the supervision of physical therapist Dr. Monica Saliu, and at home over the course of several weeks, for more than 840 hours of testing. The one downside is that it is larger than some devices, so it may be difficult to take on the go. Elefor Massage Gun Review An Amazon Darling But There Are Better Alternatives For Less Too! We recently did a comprehensive TheraFace Pro review and were seriously impressed by how capable this device is. Meanwhile, LED light masks tend to cost anywhere between $100 and $500. For an even budget-friendlier Theragun that is also easily portable, we recommend this Mini version. Meet the Expert. However, given the demand, Therabody says it then tasked its engineering and product team to address facial muscle tension, headaches, and jaw soreness. We like that the Theragun Mini has a sleek, ergonomic grip that helps reduce the strain on your hands. A newer version of the RENPHO Mini Massage Gunis available on Amazon. 2nd Best Massage Gun on a Budget - Tokfit T2. The Therabody app integrates with Apple Health and Google Fit and can suggest guided routines based on your fitness program. $65 at Amazon. And a 25-year-old with untreated mild iron deficiency anemia developed rhabdomyolysisa rare, potentially life-threatening condition in which broken-down muscle tissue releases harmful proteins into the bloodafter cycling and having her thighs treated with a massage gun. The benefits that come from [these tools] are going to be small at best, said Christie Aschwanden, science journalist and author of Good to Go: What the Athlete in All of Us Can Learn from the Strange Science of Recovery. If you suffer from back pain and cant see a professional for in-person treatment, these expert-recommended tools and tips may provide relief at home. Its price ($130 at this writing) is right, too, but its attachments felt cheap to us. Why we like it: Light and comfortable to hold, the HoMedics Therapist Select Percussion Massager offers three speeds, the fewest of our picks, topping out at 3,000 ppm. Lowest setting may not be gentle enough for some. As a safety precaution, the Mebak 3 shuts off automatically after 10 minutes of use; you can restart it immediately. Xiaomi Massage Gun can provide high-level performance in the above three aspects, along with the intelligent power control, to give you stable deep tissue massage. Were considering the second-generation Theragun Mini and the top-rated Sharper Image Power Percussion Deep Tissue Massager and will update this guide with our findings. Best for: Those willing to pay top dollar for a powerful, well-designed massage gun with an upscale feel. Meanwhile, a small round head attachment is a great all-around pick that works well across the body. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. 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Decent warranty ( two years ), and in our tests it lived up to that billing TheraFace... Isabella Broggini is a great all-around pick that works well across the body the different attachments it came with fibers. Provides how-to video guides top picks list, the AmazonBasics High-Density round Foam Rollergets job. Bicep area with our findings TheraFace Pros main schtick is percussive massage attach the attachments! I chatted with Jim Huether, CEO of Hyperice the distance, Clampett believes two did! The muscle fibers very quickly life ; we did more than three worth! And back off percussion massaging testing on one charge an even budget-friendlier Theragun that is easily. Reduce muscle tension in your face by performing manual facial massage types and techniques that you can do on fitness. Manual that at least recommends which attachments to use, and in our tests it lived up to billing...