Tight, sore muscles and tense, grumpy hips and spines are a fact of life. Aging, being active, sitting, and stress all contribute to the problem. Realistically, you can’t avoid them all. But help is at hand with massage guns, which are built on methods used in physical and sports therapy, massage, and other healing fields. Percussive massage guns are designed to reach deep in the muscles and fascia (e.g., IT bands and your lower back) in ways that stretching simply cannot do, and to allow you to DIY at home. Their effectiveness has translated into skyrocketing popularity and a constant proliferation of new options to match. Selecting the ideal model to serve your needs can be overwhelming. Here’s what you should be asking to find the best option, and four choices that will treat you well.
- Where do you hold the most tension? There’s a bit of a “square peg, round hole” thought that goes into selecting a massage gun: The one you choose needs to suit the area you most need to address. Many larger massage guns come with multiple attachments for this reason. But new shapes are also being manufactured now (e.g., for your back and neck). They’re worth considering — especially if you don’t have someone at home who can operate the massage gun where you can’t reach.
- What’s the cost-benefit for you? Massage guns aren’t cheap. But if muscle tension is a perpetual thing, chances are you’re regularly dishing out cash for massages, yoga classes, ointments or other treatments. Within the realm of what is financially feasible, a massage gun is an investment, so consider the long-term cost-benefit and item’s quality and durability, not just upfront cost.
- Do you need guidance to use it? If you know anatomy well, you may not need the help. But where, how, and why your body holds tension is more complex than just “there”—and it’s highly interconnected. So if you’re looking to get the most out of your massage gun, consider brands that provide tutorials and programming. For example, the (free) Theragun app can control your device through Bluetooth, and has a large selection of guided videos.
Our Picks for the Best Massage Gun on Amazon
Top Pick Overall: Theragun Elite Massage Gun
Great for Your Spine: Theragun Wave Duo
Budget Pick: Aerlang Massage Gun
Great for Travel: Theragun Mini
Better You is a shopping-advice and product-review site brought to you by the publishers of Popular Science and Outdoor Life magazines. We’re here to help you choose among the most popular products on Amazon, and hidden gems our experts think are worth checking out.
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