Are the advantages of percussion massage guns truly worth the cost? They are, as a matter of fact. Here's why, as well as what injuries they can help with.
You've most likely heard of the massage gun. They're everywhere—social media posts, athletes, and you've probably seen a couple (or maybe a lot) of advertisements for them. I'm sure you're wondering if they're worth it or just a bunch of nonsense.
We'll go over the advantages of percussion massage guns, how to use one to treat running injuries and our product recommendations.
Massage guns are just as effective as deep tissue massages and, as an added bonus, they are much more portable. Consider it like carrying a professional sports masseuse in your gym bag. It doesn't get much better than having access to professional-grade power whenever you want without having to enter a luxury spa. Here are some of the physical advantages massage guns provide:
Relief tired muscles that are stiff
When you give your all in training, your muscles are likely to be stiff and tired the next morning. A massage gun can help reduce muscle soreness caused by exercise. By reducing soreness, you will be able to return to training the following day.
Enhances Range of Motion
If you've ever tried to exercise with stiff muscles, you know it's neither fun nor effective. Muscle stiffness restricts mobility and can lead to injury. Percussion massage guns will aid in the improvement of your range of motion. Massage and vibration therapies, in fact, can not only help prevent injuries but also treat them. So, if you're already in pain from working out with limited mobility, a massage gun can be extremely beneficial.
Improves Circulation
Improved circulation is another significant advantage of using a massage gun. Using a massage gun will help blood, oxygen, and nutrients flow more easily through your body. As a result, athletic performance will improve, and the recovery process will be sped up.
Here are the Top Three Running Injuries and How Percussion Massage Guns Can Help:
Injuries are extremely inconvenient. You have to stop working out to relax your body, which is not something you want to do when you're in the middle of training. Massage guns, thankfully, are excellent at treating common running injuries. You can also watch Sean demonstrate each massage in the video above, or continue reading for more information:
THE ILIOTIBIAL BAND (IT BAND)
Your IT band is a long, thick band of connective tissue that runs from your hip to your knee and shin bone on the lateral side of your thighs. IT Band Syndrome is one of the most common overuse injuries among runners, and it happens when your IT Band becomes inflamed or tight.
It is critical to note that you should not percuss the IT Band directly, but rather around it. Begin at the outer top thigh and slowly work your way up and down the muscle for a few repetitions.
FLEXOR OF THE HIP
Massaging your hip flexor and thigh muscles will help your IT Band recover faster. This area can become tight from sitting or overuse, so it's critical to keep it loose.
When using the massage gun, keep it away from the hip bone and just below it. You'll want to focus on the tensor fascia lata, so it may take some time to find the tenderness, but once you do, hold for 20 seconds or so.
CALVES
Tight calves can completely derail a run. They are unpleasant and can result in serious injuries. Fortunately, a massage gun can assist you.
Begin near the bottom of the calf muscle and gradually massage your way up and down until you find the area with the most tenderness; once there, hold the massage gun for 30 seconds. This will help the muscle relax and loosen up, as well as relieve pain.
Product Recommendations and Specifications
There are several excellent percussion massage guns to choose from. The HappyGun Pro is one of our favorites at HappyGun. This percussion massager is currently smashing it in the running community and with our loyal customers.
Overall, this is a fantastic tool with numerous advantages that is also a lot of fun to use. It has three intensity settings that can be adjusted to your liking, and it comes with an accessory kit.
This kit includes a variety of attachments to aid in your therapy. Check out the advantages of each attachment and where to use it in the table below:
The forkhead: two prongs are great for the area around the Achilles tendon (never use it on the Achilles itself), your ankle, traps, foot, and really anywhere that's tight. It can even be used to target larger muscles such as calves and quads.
The bullet head: This attachment is useful for pinpointing specific areas with a trigger. This head is ideal for smaller areas such as your feet.
Flathead: Ideal for denser body parts (quads, glutes, pecs), but can be used on almost any body part. This is the most versatile head.
Cushion head: This new attachment is positioned between the ball attachment and the flathead, but it provides more cushion than the flathead. The cushioned head has some squish to it, which allows it to gently ease into the muscles.
Ball attachment: This is the softest head and is ideal for easing your body into the massage. Especially if you're already in a lot of pain.
We bring you the best of both worlds: an automatic and manual massage gun. Learn how it works and how it can help you maintain good health.
Massage has been used for centuries, and there has recently been a resurgence of interest in massage techniques, as well as an increase in new forms of treatment such as using a laser or even magnets.
If you want to try our best massage gun, get it here.
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