One of the best therapeutic massage weapons: tried and examined aid for sore, drained muscle tissue | Health
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2025-01-24 15:22:00
Massage weapons are sometimes pitched on the extremely lively. They might help you heat up for exercises, speed up restoration and customarily maintain issues free and injury-free. However you don’t need to be coaching for an Ironman triathlon to profit from a percussive pummelling. A superb session may also alleviate the final soreness, stiffness and ache that comes from desk-bound days and the each day grind – all with out having to cough up for a spell on a masseuse’s desk or be dealt with by a stranger.
These personal-care energy instruments use speedy, repetitive stress and vibrations to penetrate drained muscle tissue, with a choice of heads, variable speeds and even automated routines to tailor therapies in the direction of tight hassle spots.
Dozens of therapeutic massage weapons can be found from varied manufacturers, and you’ll spend something from £50 to £500. However not all muscle therapeutic massage weapons are made equal.
To search out out which gun massagers ship the most effective bang to your buck, I spent the month of December (sure, over Christmas) giving myself DIY myofascial manipulation 4 occasions a day. The vacations are an attention-grabbing time – perhaps even the most effective time – to undertake an enormous take a look at of therapeutic massage weapons. Who doesn’t want stress aid when all the household is invading their dwelling for every week?
Right here’s my decide of the most effective therapeutic massage weapons you should purchase proper now.
At a look
Why it’s best to belief me
I’ve spent twenty years testing the newest health gear and the most effective dwelling train package – together with the very first therapeutic massage weapons available on the market – whereas additionally working greater than 50 marathons and ultramarathons. I practice most days, typically twice, frequently racking up greater than 50 miles every week and sometimes working solo marathons. And I do all of it within the identify of testing trainers and watches.
Once I’m not figuring out, I sit hunched over a desk for hours on finish, tapping out articles like this one. At 46, that’s the right recipe for full physique tightness. If anybody can profit from percussive therapeutic massage, it’s me.
How I examined
I put 9 of the newest therapeutic massage weapons by means of an intensive two-day take a look at. That included a short full-body, wake-up going over within the early morning, a pre-run or pre-training activation, and a brief post-workout restoration session. I ended every day with a brief wind-down rubdown, about an hour earlier than mattress. I’m now formally probably the most massaged human on the planet.
I attempted all of the completely different head attachments, velocity settings, warmth and chilly choices, and I labored on my weak spots. As a each day runner, I undergo from all types of tightness: tight calves, quads, glutes and adductors – to not point out fatigued ft. I had lots to work on. Anybody who got here to my home over the vacations additionally obtained massaged.
I downloaded any obtainable apps and adopted the guided plans, checked whether or not the battery life largely lived as much as the listed occasions, and used a decibel sound app to match the loudness of every gun.
In any case that, I rated the gun massagers based mostly on efficiency, ease of use, quietness, portability, endurance and general worth for cash. Listed below are my prime picks.
One of the best therapeutic massage weapons you should purchase in 2025
Finest therapeutic massage gun general:
Theragun Prime Plus
A newcomer to the Theragun lineup, the Prime Plus is a robust top-tier gun with a superb associate app and sizzling/chilly heads. There’s no higher choice for bringing warmth to your rub-downs. It’s additionally the most effective deep-tissue therapeutic massage gun on take a look at.
Why we adore it
With regards to the entire therapeutic massage gun package deal, Theragun nonetheless units the benchmark. The midweight Prime Plus stays true to the Theragun DNA, with a sturdy, sturdy design that’s nicely thought out. For a begin, the tactile, triangle multi-grip deal with makes it easy to vary the angle and hit the hard-to-reach spots with loads of knot-breaking energy.
You pay additional for the added options and design finesse, however if you happen to’re searching for the most effective graduated, muscle-penetrating heat, the Prime Plus is it. That’s not what I cherished most about this gun, nevertheless.
It was the app-controlled therapies that actually set this aside – at the very least from the rivals – with dozens of set routines to observe with video steerage, a real-time stress sensor and automatic velocity controls. This makes it a doddle to wield the gun to the most effective impact. You may as well hook up with Apple Well being or Strava and get personalised routines based mostly in your exercise.
The five-speed Prime Plus comes with 4 good-sized heads: a heated percussive head, a dampener, commonplace ball and wedge. You should buy others so as to add to that, together with a cooling head.
Different touches I cherished: a battery lock stops the gun firing in your bag – no embarrassing buzzing or unintended battery drain right here. Talking of buzzing, it’s additionally quieter than the unique Theragun Prime, and it comes with a tender carry case the dimensions of a packed lunch field. It’s nearly moveable sufficient for the occasional out-of-house mission.
It’s a disgrace that … it’s so dear. In the event you don’t care about warmth, the Theragun Prime is a less expensive various.
Weight: 886g
Amplitude: 16mm
Velocity ranges: 5 (1,750-2,400 RPM)
Quoted battery life: as much as two hours half-hour
Attachments: 4
Examined noise degree: 25-73dB
App steerage: sure
Guarantee: two years
£379 at Therabody
£379 at John Lewis
Finest worth therapeutic massage gun:
Bob and Brad D6 Professional
Developed by a physiotherapist duo, the Bob and Brad D6 Professional is the form of therapeutic massage gun your chiropractor would possibly wield. It packs the ability, options and suppleness to rival the most effective at a worth that gained’t tense up your shoulders.
Why we adore it
At £250, it could be a stretch to name this a finances purchase, however what you get for that worth makes this the most effective worth going.
At virtually 1.3kg, the Bob and Brad D6 Professional is among the many largest and heaviest therapeutic massage weapons I examined. The carry case alone is sort of a small briefcase. So if you happen to’re searching for one thing to bung in a gymnasium bag or take in your travels, this isn’t it. Nonetheless, beneath the well-built bulk is a critical instrument meaning enterprise. And also you’re getting a number of bang to your buck.
The D6 Professional comes with a easy, vibrant Oled show; probably the most complete choice of seven soft-touch silicone heads; a six-speed vary; and a 2,500 RPM prime velocity. It additionally massages deeper than another gun on the cabinets, with an amplitude of 16mm, backed by 85lb of stall drive. Irrespective of how a lot stress I exerted, I all the time discovered my muscle tissue gave up earlier than the gun did. This beast didn’t stall.
Regardless of the load, it’s comparatively simple to wield, because of a parallelogram deal with and a 90-degree adjustable rotating arm that permits you to transfer the therapeutic massage head to 6 completely different positions. That flexibility, as a result of head choices and the incremental speeds, enables you to comfortably hit any spot with wonderful management.
I’m additionally a fan of a USB-C wall-charging plug within the field. Oh, and it’s telly-watching quiet for a giant gun, too.
It’s a disgrace that … the associate app doesn’t supply the real-time guided routines that you simply discover on some linked therapeutic massage weapons.
Weight: 1.27kg
Amplitude: 16mm
Velocity ranges: six (1,500-2,500 RPM)
Quoted battery life: as much as three hours
Attachments: seven
Examined noise degree: 54-71db
App steerage: no
Guarantee: two years
Finest mini therapeutic massage gun:
Theragun Mini
Theragun’s most compact pummeller is small however nonetheless mighty, with the linked smarts of pricier weapons. That is the one to decide on if you wish to unleash percussive therapeutic massage powers anyplace – at your desk, on a airplane or on the marathon end line.
Why we adore it
For a mini therapeutic massage gun, the second-generation Theragun Mini is expensive. However whereas it could empty your checking account as quickly because it relieves your muscle tissue, there’s worth right here. This highly effective Bluetooth-connected compact gun is pleasingly easy and impressively highly effective for its measurement.
What stands out from rival cheaper mini weapons is the steerage. In the event you’re not sure about how greatest to make use of your knot buster, you get the identical entry to dozens of preset, guided routines that include Theragun’s pricier fashions.
These routines cowl every little thing from assuaging hip ache to walks and parkrun warm-ups. There are restoration drills to fend off post-workout muscle soreness after an higher/decrease physique session and if, like me, you undergo late-night leg cramps, there’s one for that, too.
The triangular form bucks the usual design in a bid to enhance the grip, however I had blended success with it. It’s not the best to carry for some areas or for making use of extra stress.
Nonetheless, I used to be impressed by the depth and energy of the therapeutic massage. The 12mm amplitude is nice for a mini gun, whereas the three preset speeds supply an excellent vary. I additionally cherished with the ability to fine-tune the percussions a minute within the app, unlocking speeds between these fastened presets.
You get solely three head attachments – a typical ball, a dampener and a thumb. Some minis supply as much as 5, however these coated most of what I wanted – from foot-soothing plantar to the calves and tighter spots on my again. A fork attachment for working deep across the backbone and neck was the one factor I missed.
General, you’re getting wonderful portability in a travel-friendly package deal that’s nice for sticking in a gymnasium bag, post-marathon drop bag or your carry-on. I cherished having this by my desk for some forearm and hand therapeutic massage.
It’s a disgrace that … it’s bizarrely exhausting to squeeze every little thing into the small carry case.
Weight: 450g
Amplitude: 12mm
Velocity settings: three (1,750-2,400 RPM)
Quoted battery life: as much as two hours half-hour
Attachments: three
Examined noise degree: 47-61dB
App steerage: sure
Guarantee: two years
£175 at John Lewis
£175 at Therabody
Finest therapeutic massage gun for portability and energy:
Hyperice Hypervolt 2
The Hyperice Hypervolt 2 is a glossy, mid-weight all-rounder with a giant library of app-guided therapeutic massage routines, aggressive battery life and sufficient pummel energy for many dwelling customers.
Why we adore it
There’s a contented simplicity and a reliable swagger to the Hyperice Hypervolt 2. It combines a glossy, sturdy construct with loads of practicality and smarts, together with automated velocity management, real-time guided routines, a stress sensor and a protracted battery life. That each one provides as much as one of many best-value mid-range weapons, hitting the candy spot for many informal customers.
The compact Hypervolt 2 is extra moveable than the professional weapons, nevertheless it nonetheless gave a deep therapeutic massage because of a brushless, high-torque 60W motor. There’s loads of quiet energy at your disposal, and I had no hassle working my larger muscle teams.
There’s a wide selection of easy-to-swap attachments, too – 5 in whole – together with fork, ball, cushion, flat and bullet. They fortunately are available in their very own carry case, though surprisingly there’s no case for the principle gun.
In the event you discover some girthy weapons exhausting to grip, the thinner however wider, rubberised deal with is extra pure. And although the Hypervolt 2 is heavier than mini weapons, it’s no tougher to make use of.
A wonderful choice for principally dwelling use with the occasional journey in a journey bag.
It’s a disgrace that … the app isn’t as intuitive as Theragun’s, and there’s no carry case for the gun or USB-C charging.
Weight: 820g
Amplitude: not listed
Velocity ranges: three (RPM not listed)
Quoted battery life: as much as three hours
Attachments: 5
Examined noise degree: 25-82dB
App steerage: sure
Guarantee: one 12 months
£219 at Hyperice
£219 at Amazon
One of the best of the remainder
Renpho Attain
Finest for: dangerous backs
The clue is within the identify, however the Renpho Attain’s intelligent killer USP is a removable deal with extender that makes it a lot simpler to achieve harder spots like shoulders and again. I want all the opposite weapons supplied the identical.
By way of energy, the Attain feels extra like a mid-weight gun. It lacks the depth and penetration of the largest hitters. Although computerized velocity changes – that react to the stress you apply – assist to hit the candy spot.
The 4 therapeutic massage attachments (ball head, U-shaped head for backbone, neck and achilles, flat head and bullet head for joints set off factors) are all fairly exhausting and plastic. I choose the softer coated heads on different weapons. I additionally needed a greater grip-enhancing coating on handles. It’s all a bit shiny and slippery.
It didn’t make the ultimate minimize as a result of … it’s nice for hitting hard-to-reach areas and tries to supply lots for the worth, however the gun lacks energy and finesse.
Weight: 750g; amplitude: 12mm; velocity ranges: 5 (1,600-2,800 RPM); quoted battery life: as much as three hours; attachments: 4; examined noise degree: 41-71dB; app steerage: not particularly for this gun; guarantee: 18 months for official web site buy
Hyperice Hypervolt Go 2
Finest for: a mid-weight massager
Punchy and moveable, the Hypervolt Go 2 is a gym-bag-friendly clean operator with an angled deal with for higher management. Regardless of its measurement, I used to be impressed by the energy and endurance of this three-speed gun. It’s a step up from the mini weapons, giving loads of soothing stress. You possibly can actually work the hardest, most resistant areas with out stalling.
It solely ships with two interchangeable heads – a bigger flat and a bullet head. There’s no stress sensor and it lacks linked app smarts, though you possibly can nonetheless observe guided therapeutic massage routines within the app. The routine library isn’t as nicely organised or as complete as Theragun’s, although, with some odd esoteric names resembling “Cooldown glide flush”.
It didn’t make the ultimate minimize as a result of … it comes with solely two heads, there’s no carry case and it lacks linked smarts.
Weight: 680g; amplitude: not listed; velocity ranges: three (RPM not listed); quoted battery life: as much as three hours; attachments: two; examined noise degree: 23-86db; app steerage: sure, however not linked; guarantee: one 12 months
£129 at Hypervolt
£129 at Amazon
Renpho R3
Finest for: a small-ish gun that may goal huge muscle teams
Extra mid-weight than mini, the R3 could also be compact in contrast with larger therapeutic massage weapons, nevertheless it’s nonetheless fairly heavy if you happen to’re searching for a really mini choice. On the flip aspect, that makes it sturdy sufficient to pack 50lb of stall drive, so it takes a number of pummel stress with out giving in.
The decrease amplitude doesn’t dig fairly as deep as some weapons, however the velocity vary and prime velocity are wonderful. You get a wide selection of 5 larger-sized heads, too, which I discovered higher at hitting larger muscle teams than smaller attachments on different mini weapons. I appreciated different neat touches like a transparent LED velocity indicator and at-a-glance LED battery mild on the slim, silicone-coated deal with – that’s additionally very easy to grip.
It didn’t make the ultimate minimize as a result of … it’s not as gym- or travel-bag pleasant as mini gun rivals.
Weight: 680g; amplitude: 10mm; velocity ranges: 5 (1,800-3,200 RPM); quoted battery life: as much as two hours half-hour; attachments: 5; examined noise degree: 49-74dB; app steerage: no; guarantee: 18 months for official web site buy
£79.99 at Renpho
£69.99 at Amazon
Bob and Brad Q2 Professional
Finest for: a mini therapeutic massage gun that provides each cold and hot
The five-speed Bob and Brad Q2 Professional doesn’t simply pack warmth. The removable, temperature-shifting head flips to chilly, too.
The cooling/heated head runs for an hour on a single cost, with two temperature settings every for cold and hot. The shift from one to the opposite is snappy, though I solely actually felt the advantages from the highest warmth setting on extra delicate areas (resembling my ft and again). Even at prime whack, it struggled to penetrate my unsensitive quads.
Past the thermo trickery, there’s an excellent number of smaller attachments – 5 in whole that mean you can get into most knots and hit most muscle teams. It’s simple to deal with and there’s a toughened carry case, which is smaller than the Renpho Mini’s case however nonetheless takes up a number of area in your gymnasium bag. It may well take loads of stress for a mini therapeutic massage gun, offsetting the truth that the decrease 7mm amplitude doesn’t hit as deep.
It didn’t make the ultimate minimize as a result of … the variable sizzling/chilly head is a neat trick, however I needed extra depth for the non-thermo rub downs.
Weight: 430g; amplitude: 7mm; velocity settings: 5 (1,800-3,000 RPM); quoted battery life: as much as three hours; attachments: 5; examined noise degree: 25-77dB; app steerage: no; guarantee: two years
£89.99 at Amazon
£84.99 at eBay
Renpho Mini Thermal Therapeutic massage Gun
Finest for: light-weight aid
For nicely underneath £100, Renpho’s mini thermal therapeutic massage gun shoots for portability and prime worth. Typically, it does a stable job. You’ll battle to discover a cheaper heated-head gun, even when that heat is kind of delicate – suppose a cup of tea that’s cooling somewhat than a contemporary mug.
It affords 5 speeds with a good prime velocity and 50lb of stall drive, however gained’t take heavy stress. The 4 smaller heads are nice for extra delicate areas, however not as highly effective or penetrating in your huge muscle teams because the Theragun Mini.
It’s the lightest of the mini weapons and a bit slimmer and simpler to carry than the Bob and Brad Q2 and the Theragun Mini. I cherished how simple it was to wield, with a tender silicone casing that’s grippy however clean. You may as well swap between two completely different color sleeves to personalise your gun, which is helpful for cleansing and sturdiness.
It didn’t make the ultimate minimize as a result of … though the gun itself is travel-friendly, the cumbersome protecting carry case was an excessive amount of for my gymnasium bag.
Weight: 356g; amplitude: 10mm; velocity ranges: 5 (1,800-3,000 RPM); quoted battery life: as much as three hours; attachments: 4; examined noise degree: 33.2-77.3dB; app steerage: sure; guarantee: 18 months for official web site buy
What you want to know
What makes an excellent therapeutic massage gun?
You possibly can spend anyplace between £50 and £500 on a therapeutic massage gun, however you won’t must shell out prime whack to get a percussive system that most closely fits your wants. Right here’s easy methods to suss out your priorities.
If you’re selecting the most effective therapeutic massage gun, one of the vital necessary issues to contemplate is the mix of amplitude and velocity.
Amplitudes – basically how deeply the top penetrates the muscle – can vary from 7mm to 26mm, with speeds anyplace from 1,250-3,000 RPM. Prime-end (and larger) therapeutic massage weapons generally ship larger amplitudes, sooner prime speeds and extra velocity settings so you possibly can fine-tune your remedy. In different phrases, they’ll offer you a harder-hitting therapeutic massage but additionally extra flexibility.
It’s value noting the stall drive, too. Weapons with a better stall drive can face up to extra stress earlier than chopping out, typically offsetting a decrease amplitude.
One other huge consideration is portability. Essentially the most highly effective weapons are typically bulkier and tip the scales to over 1kg. Mini therapeutic massage weapons, in the meantime, commerce therapeutic massage energy for his or her gym-bag-stashing means. The smaller weapons may also be simpler to deal with.
With regards to battery life, most weapons now cost through USB-C and supply between two-and-a-half and 4 hours on a single cost. An honest therapeutic massage gun ought to final for a couple of days to every week, based mostly on 15 to half-hour of use a day.
Lastly, the extra superior therapeutic massage weapons now supply intelligent extras resembling heated heads and app-connected routines with computerized velocity controls, stress sensors and video steerage to take the guesswork out of your therapies.
Do therapeutic massage weapons work and are they good for you?
Therapeutic massage weapons are nonetheless a comparatively new phenomenon, however they’ve develop into more and more common. So do they really work? That will depend on what you’re hoping for.
The analysis remains to be restricted, however there’s a rising physique of proof to help the claimed advantages of an excellent pummelling, notably for flexibility, restoration and basic leisure.
One 2023 systematic evaluate discovered therapeutic massage weapons have been efficient at boosting blood circulation, lowering muscle pressure and soreness, enhancing restoration and selling leisure. Those that used percussive remedy additionally appeared to have an improved vary of movement.
Nonetheless, the identical evaluate concluded that in relation to energy, stability, acceleration, agility and explosive actions, they “both didn’t have enhancements or they even confirmed a lower in efficiency”. So, whereas being extra versatile and recovering sooner might assist enhance your efficiency within the broad sense, there’s little proof to counsel therapeutic massage weapons could make you dash sooner or bounce larger.
use a therapeutic massage gun
One of the best therapeutic massage weapons include associate apps to stroll you thru the tekkers, with recommendation on which heads to make use of to focus on completely different areas of the physique, greatest speeds, method and period for every routine. My professional tip: even when your cheaper gun doesn’t, the apps are typically free, so you possibly can nonetheless obtain, observe and shortly discover ways to optimise your time underneath the gun.
As a rule of thumb, much less is extra. To activate muscle tissue pre-workout, a fast 30-second pulse at a sooner velocity works nicely. Rotating by means of muscle teams for 2 to a few minutes is adequate to unlock the restoration advantages post-exercise. Actually, many weapons include 10-minute automated cutoffs to forestall overuse. It additionally pays to begin with mild stress and slower speeds and transfer up, tuning into what your physique tells you.
Some phrases of warning: if you happen to’re injured, experiencing muscle ache past the traditional post-workout grumbles or nerve discomfort, search skilled assist earlier than ploughing into these painful areas.
Expectant moms additionally must method with care. Whereas common therapeutic massage has been proven to alleviate some pregnancy-related discomfort, there’s no particular analysis on the constructive or unfavourable results of percussive therapeutic massage. So it’s extremely advisable that you simply seek the advice of your physician earlier than utilizing a therapeutic massage gun.
Kieran Alger is a contract working, health and well being journalist who splits his time between testing, coaching and tapping out evaluations
