How to use a Massage Gun

Massage guns are wonderful when used correctly.

Unfortunately, most people don’t know how to get the best from them.

It wasn’t so long ago that you’d need to see a masseur for that massage therapy post workout. Fortunately, someone clever spotted a gap in the market and the ‘Massage Gun’ was born, offering the perfect way to massage yourself. The gun works by using percussive massage, which sees rapid vibrations applied to your muscles. This can help to relieve aches and pains, aid soreness, enhance tissue repair and help you to relax after your exercises.

On this page you will find out all you need to know about massage guns and the best ways to use them, with the following five handy hints.

My top tip for buying a massage gun is to avoid the horrible no-name knock offs. Go for a known brand with real customer service and you’ll get a gun that lasts for years (at not much higher a price).

How to Use a Massage Gun Correctly

Massage guns are simple pieces of home gym equipment.

There’s the handle and then there are the series of attachments you can use to get the most out of the equipment. To use the gun, turn it on first and then place it on the area that you want massaged.

Some will put the gun in place and then turn it on, but this can give you a bit of a jolt, especially if you haven’t used one before. The motor of the gun will ensure movement in either a circular motion or back and forth. You can then select the appropriate attachment for the kind of massage you’d like. The attachments can effectively mimic the variety of actions a masseur would perform on the table.

Massage Gun Effectiveness

It can be an idea not to overuse a massage gun as that could negate any positive effects that you might gain. At first, use it on a low setting. This is especially the case if you are new to working out. High settings work best for highly toned athletes. The amount of time you spend using the massage gun is important as well. Don’t go spending an hour using the gun on your muscle groups. One to two minutes is the perfect amount of time on the large muscle groups.

Pre and Post Workout Massage Gun Use

Experts recommend that you should be using a massage gun both before and after your workout, as well as occasionally in the middle of it. It has been suggested that before a workout you spend 30 seconds massaging the primary muscle groups that will be used. If you are starting to feel tired during the workout, that could be a good time to re-energize yourself with a short 15 second massage. Then the one- or two-minute massage (as suggested above) can take place after the workout. You can also revisit the massage gun throughout the day, just as long as you leave between 1 and 2 hours between each course.

Correct use of Massage Gun Attachments

There are typically four attachments that come with each massage gun. The most popular attachment of all is the large ball and this is ideal for treating the larger muscle groups. The quads and hamstrings are good examples. The bullet is a smaller attachment and is ideal for pinpointing particular spots on the body. The flat head attachment has a similar feel to the large ball but is ideal for the smaller muscle groups. It is also a ‘fits all’ attachment, for use over the whole body. The fork head attachment has dual prongs and allows you to target areas such as the spine. The Achilles and the calf muscles can also be massaged using the fork head. Depending on which massage gun you purchase, you might find further attachments.

What Not to do With a Massage Gun

There are certain injuries that certainly shouldn’t be treated using a massage gun, as it could cause further problems. If you’ve pulled a muscle, using a massage gun will not help treat the injury, and could make it worse. You shouldn’t use the gun for inflammation injuries such as tendonitis or periostitis. This might seem obvious, but using a massage gun on a fracture or a break is an absolute no-no. It could make the injury worse and at the very least it could be very painful.

5 Ways to use a Massage Gun: Conclusion

Massage guns can have great benefits if you use them in the right way. You will want to take it easy at first and use a gentle setting. However, as your fitness levels grow and you get used to the equipment, it might be time to up the intensity. Find out for yourself which attachments work best for you to make the most of your massage gun.

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