Massage guns - any good?

[NaePasaran]

Always cautious about something that's brought to market by someone with the physique and profile of Cristiano Ronaldo. Is it the product the marketing budget is trying to sell or Ronaldos six-pack. There is of course Youtube reviewers but no idea which are legit and who's being paid...

So any real world experiences of Theragun and (cheaper) alternatives? Not expecting professional masseuse results but getting a lot of stiffness and knots in shoulders/upper back, lower back and feet (To be expected when doing lifting and carrying 37.5hrs per week wearing safety shoes).

Snake-oil or pretty useful?

[Bluevanman]

Yes, I use a Wahl gun that cost the princely sum of £20 off eBay.Fixed the pain I was having in my upper arm in a couple of weeks after months of suffering and have used it on other body parts after gym sessions.

[oddman]

There was an episode of R4 Sliced Bread on this topic. IIRC it was neutral to positive. It's a really hard thing to evaluate as you can't really have a placebo comparison and people who have spent a lot on a high end product may have cognitive bias in reporting its success or otherwise.

I've tried foam rollering and it's absolutely horrendous. I think it works in the sense of it definitely feels better when you stop it. My educated view is that I'm not conviced by the mechanisms purported to explain any effect - fascial discruption etc. As a sceptic, I'm not going to benefit from any placebo effect.

I am getting worse DOMS as I get older and I think the only thing that helps is being cautious about increases in volume and intensity of whatever you are doing; sensible nutrition and hydration; sleep; strength and mobility if you're mostly endurance training; staying off booze (my hangovers go to my legs these days) and adequate rest or recovery sessions that really are recovery.

[Some Gump]

I've suffered from crampy legs pretty much my whole life.
Parents got a muscle gun and i gave it a go - it's not as good as a massage, but since massages are never on the menu way better than just aching!

Being inspired by that, but also a cheapskate i got a homedics one off ebay for a whopping 35 quid. I'd say it's 90% as good as their muscle gun, but it's definitely not as powerful. The proper muscle gun is about 140 quid i think.

My son predictably suffers the same leg malarky i do, so it's also good to be able to let him sort his own legs occasionally rather than me massaging at night too. Hurts less than the foam roller, and is easier.

[lancslad58]

I have the Pulsio Air massage gun that I found very effective

https://pulsio.co.uk/products/pulsio-air?view=repl...

Recently I've been having fortnightly acupuncture sessions at my local chiropractor, well worth the money for the pain relief that it provides.

[Voldemort]

Bluevanman said:

Yes, I use a Wahl gun that cost the princely sum of £20 off eBay.Fixed the pain I was having in my upper arm in a couple of weeks after months of suffering and have used it on other body parts after gym sessions.

[Hugo Stiglitz]

I used it at the junction in my calf muscles - transformational.

If you actually need it, it'll work.

[Deep Thought]

Voldemort said:

Bluevanman said:

Yes, I use a Wahl gun that cost the princely sum of £20 off eBay.Fixed the pain I was having in my upper arm in a couple of weeks after months of suffering and have used it on other body parts after gym sessions.

[Freakuk]

Mrs Freak bought one a few years ago and it has been useful with the odd ache/pain in fact I had to recently go a physio for right arm pain which the physio tracked down to my shoulder muscles, I used the gun over a week or two and by the time my next physio appointment was due the pain was pretty much gone and he was happy with the progress so didn't have to return for any further sessions.

[Deep Thought]

Freakuk said:

Mrs Freak bought one a few years ago and it has been useful with the odd ache/pain in fact I had to recently go a physio for right arm pain which the physio tracked down to my shoulder muscles, I used the gun over a week or two and by the time my next physio appointment was due the pain was pretty much gone and he was happy with the progress so didn't have to return for any further sessions.

+1

Similar here. Had a couple of physio sessions over an issue and a colleague suggested a massage gun. Definitely seemed to do the trick and solved the problem.

I went a bit overboard probably, and got this one when it was on offer at £74.99, as it had the heat and cold fitment.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0D16TYXYL?ref_=ppx_hz...

Cheap ones seem pretty much as effective.

[Huzzah]

My Osteopath uses a heavy duty, Dr Graeme machine, also sells a domestic version.

I'll let you know how it goes.

[Davey S2]

My physio recommended this one which was on offer at the time in Home Bargains for £20 but looks out of stock now..

https://home.bargains/product/c2beb30e-2ad8-4fd8-8...

I'm sure there are one out there which are smaller, more powerful and quieter but I can't fault this one at all for occasional use.

[MaxFromage]

NaePasaran said:

Always cautious about something that's brought to market by someone with the physique and profile of Cristiano Ronaldo. Is it the product the marketing budget is trying to sell or Ronaldos six-pack. There is of course Youtube reviewers but no idea which are legit and who's being paid...

So any real world experiences of Theragun and (cheaper) alternatives? Not expecting professional masseuse results but getting a lot of stiffness and knots in shoulders/upper back, lower back and feet (To be expected when doing lifting and carrying 37.5hrs per week wearing safety shoes).

Snake-oil or pretty useful?

Over the last few years I've used personal massage/stretching/myofascial release to fix a lot of things I had wrong with me. Personally I don't think a gun is going to be that useful on the areas you mention other than the feet.

I'd recommend the book 'Becoming a Supple Leopard' as the way forward to fix whatever issues you have. It really is amazing.

[AB]

https://www.tend.global/

I have a couple of these, was given them as samples. It's basically something you'd fine on Love Honey

However, the glide attachment on full power does seem to relieve muscular pain.

[wyson]

Get a wand, not a gun. Mrs has an OSIM uGun 360. It’s really easy to reach all areas of your back, if a little awkward on the legs.

She swears by these massage gadgets. Has a massaging cushion, chair and foot bed thingy as well.

They don’t do much for me. I far prefer a decent stretch or a session of yoga to loosen up.