Massage Guns

Massage guns deliver rapid percussive pulses to muscle through a vibrating head, marketed for warm-up and recovery.

What published research reports

A systematic literature review in the International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy (2023) reported that single sessions of percussive therapy can acutely increase range of motion and reduce perceived muscle soreness, while reporting no consistent improvement in strength or athletic performance measures, and noted that studies are small, protocols vary widely and long-term data are lacking. An earlier trial in the Journal of Sports Science and Medicine (2020) reported a 5-minute percussive treatment increased calf range of motion without changing muscle force. Device manuals and the reviewed studies apply treatment to muscle bellies and avoid bone, joints and the neck.

References

• Sams L, et al. The Effect Of Percussive Therapy On Musculoskeletal Performance And Experiences Of Pain: A Systematic Literature Review. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2023. IJSPT
• Konrad A, et al. The acute effects of a percussive massage treatment on plantar flexor muscles. J Sports Sci Med. 2020. PubMed Central