Authors: Therabody Scientists: Tim Roberts, MSc; Kyle Silvey, PhD, CSCS; Michelle Darian, MS, MPH, RD, LDN  

Massage guns are everywhere these days. If you don’t own one yet, you likely have a friend who does or a local fitness studio that has some on hand for members. While these devices are associated with being a fitness tool, they aren’t just for marathon runners, intense athletes, or regular gym goers. 

The type of treatment these handheld devices deliver (percussive therapy) can benefit any and every wellness routine. That’s because muscle health, joint health, blood flow, and mobility are areas that improve everyone’s overall physical and mental well-being now and years down the road. [1, 2, 3]   

So, here’s what you need to know about the benefits of massage guns beyond athletic performance.  

How Do Massage Guns Work? 

Massage guns use pulsing vibrations (called percussive therapy) to target specific sites on your body. They’re designed to be used on soft tissue (think muscles, tendons, and ligaments). They stimulate many of the same aspects of a traditional massage (think improved blood flow, myofascial relief, and relaxation) through a different, more accessible modality. While professional massages can be incredibly relaxing or relieving, a massage gun lets you bring elements of this therapy into your own hands.  

And just like how not all massages are sports massages, massage gun treatment isn’t just a recovery tool for athletes. As science continues to evolve and as we continue to innovate products to support every body’s well-being, we now offer an array of Theragun devices to meet everyday needs, including everyday wellness.   

So, if you’re looking for a comfortable massage for daily use (no matter your age or activity level), a Theragun can help. Here are five ways that a Theragun helps to support everyday wellness.  

1. Relieve Aches & Pains 

Aches and pains aren’t just a result of intensive exercise. Stiffness, tightness, and discomfort can stem from everyday activity like carrying groceries or inactivity like sitting too long or having poor posture.    

Sitting for extended periods can cause your hip flexors to shorten, which affects not only the front of your hip but also your lower back. Hip flexors are major contributors to the stability of the lower back (the lumbar spine), and tightness in this muscle poses a risk for lower back pain. [4]  And, if you don’t use an ergonomic chair, poor posture can also lead to compression within your spine, degrading its integrity. Over time, this can result in chronic back pain. Standing for too long also places a lot of pressure on your hips, lower back, and legs and leads to similar concerns. [5] 

So, how can a massage gun help? The gentle percussive rhythm stimulates sensory receptors in the muscles to trigger muscle relaxation. [6] It relaxes tight tissues, increases blood flow, and helps to mitigate pain.  

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2. Support Healthy Aging   

Getting older comes with a unique set of changes that make your joints more creaky and your muscles less stretchy than they once were. For example, aging is associated with the thickening of fascia. Fascia surrounds muscles, joints, and bones and helps to keep your body running smoothly. But fascia tends to build up in certain areas with age, thanks to lower collagen production and elasticity. [7]   

Stiffer fascia can limit your range of motion — making your movements less fluid. Maintaining a good range of motion as you age is essential for everything from climbing stairs to getting up from the couch or the floor. It also allows you to stay active and do what you love, whether that’s walking, tennis, biking, or golf.  

A buildup of fascia can also limit blood flow to the affected area and hinder the removal of waste products from tissues — slowing healing and recovery processes following activity or sedentary time. 

Percussive therapy can help break up the fascia surrounding the muscles (aka the myofascial) and help improve their ease of movement. [8] It also improves blood flow to remove metabolic waste from tissues. [9] 

3. Help You Relax 

Besides feeling good in general, massage guns can help you relax from the inside out. Percussive therapy stimulates sensory receptors in the muscles to trigger muscle relaxation. In addition to the muscle relaxation side of the equation, research shows massage guns can also stimulate the release of endorphins. Endorphins promote a feeling of well-being and comfort and reduce stress and anxiety. [10] 

To get the most physically and mentally relaxing benefits, try treating different areas of your body even for just 15-30 seconds. To learn more about the published scientific benefits of Theragun devices, read more here. 

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4. Improve Your Sleep 

Studies show that using a massage gun before bed may even help lull you to sleep. A study of 73 people found that using a Theragun before bed can benefit sleep. Here’s what the study found: 

Sleeping well plays a key role in preventing chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes and heart disease and in regulating hormones, inflammation, and cognition. [11,12,13,14,15] So, adding a massage gun to your bedtime routine can help you reach your best night’s sleep yet.  

5. Take the Guesswork out of Wellness  

If you’re looking for a massage gun for daily wellness, the Theragun Relief or Theragun Sense should be at the top of your list.  

Both devices are Bluetooth-enabled and connect to the Therabody app, where you can access expert-curated routines that take the guesswork out of relieving low back pain, neck tension, and more. The Theragun Sense also pairs percussive treatments with guided breathwork, so you can start, end, or reset your day feeling refreshed.  

Both devices deliver at-home treatment whenever you need it the most — no waiting for your next appointment with a massage therapist to start feeling some relief. 

Key Takeaways 

References