Hedt adds that there still might be benefit to the discomfort that comes with foam rolling. "Plus as users of these recovery tools, people tend to look more favorably at massage guns, too, since they cause less intense of a stimulus and muscle groups can be targeted and isolated more effectively." "A few studies look favorably towards massage guns for reducing muscle stiffness and knots, as compared to foam rolling," says. While explanations of how a massage gun works sounds pretty similar, can it really replace foam rolling? The problem is, foam rolling can be painful. If you've had trouble with muscle knots and soreness in the past, chances are you've used a foam roller once or twice before. "The source of your pain might be something more complex than what your massage gun can handle and that would benefit from physical therapy," says Dr. Most importantly, if you're experiencing persistent muscle discomfort or pain, it's always best to get it checked out by a sports medicine doctor. "Massage guns are good at targeting a specific area that's tight, and while there are studies showing that range of motion improves immediately following massage gun usage, it's hard to say whether these tools will ever be shown to be more beneficial than a good dynamic stretching routine," adds Dr. Instead, a massage gun is generally a tool to turn to when you're feeling discomfort."Īnd using a massage gun also doesn't mean you can drop your stretching routine. "There's no evidence showing that prophylactic massage will prevent knots. "I don't think there's a benefit to using a massage gun aimlessly every day as a sort of preventive routine," says Dr. Hedt warns not to think of a massage gun as a preventive tool. "There's also early evidence that percussive guns may help reduce the intensity and duration of soreness after a big workout."īut Dr. "Massage guns are best for reducing the tightness and irritating knots that sometimes form in your muscles after exercise, especially if you exercise frequently or your workouts are intense," says Dr. However, when determining whether to invest in a massage gun, he notes that it's important to understand when to use one and what to expect (and not expect) from one. These can all be weighed by the individual consumer to determine what product may be most beneficial for them. Typically, the cost will likely be associated with ease of use, longevity/quality of materials, battery life, and options for customization (movable head, various speed differentials, head selection). Hedt, there is no current evidence that more expensive products necessarily provide for a greater outcome. "One study actually shows that percussive massagers can provide the same benefit as a 15-minute massage in as little as two minutes of using it." "From a physical therapy perspective, I certainly think a massage gun is a useful recovery tool," says Dr. They're for anyone willing to shell out some money to up their recovery game.īut are massage guns actually worth a price tag that can range from $30 to $600? With a slew of options now on the market, massage guns aren't just for athletes anymore. In this case, it's accomplished via the pulsing oscillations provided by a percussive tool rather than by hand during a massage." Are massage guns worth it? "A massage gun is just another way of applying a mechanical stimulus to a muscle. "We know from massage therapy research that applying a mechanical stimulus to a muscle can spread the fibers out and force them back into an elongated position, resolving any tightness or knots that may be present," explains Dr. But he says it's likely very similar to why massage therapy helps. How massage guns and percussive therapy alleviate that discomfort is not well understood, acknowledges Dr. When this happens, the nerves bundled within the knotted muscle get confused and the resulting neural output is pain. "They're not getting the chemical input that usually tells them to relax, so these fibers become stuck or 'glued' together." "Muscle knots are essentially small bundles of muscle fibers that, for one reason or another, are stuck in a contracted state," explains Dr. Corbin Hedt, physical therapist specializing in orthopedics and sports medicine at Houston Methodist. "Massage guns, which are also called percussion massagers, are handheld devices that use vibration and deep oscillation to massage irritated muscles," explains Dr. You've probably also tried some of the go-to remedies for getting relief - a heating pad, stretch routine, massage or maybe even foam rolling.īut, there's another way to deal with tight muscles that's trending: massage guns. Whether it's after a tough workout or just the result of hunching over your laptop all week, chances are you've dealt with muscle tightness or knots before.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |