Massage settings: 9 (5 percussive, 4 heat) | Attachments: 5 (heating and cooling head, ball, air cushioning, U-shape, shovel-shaped, bullet)
Best Head Attachment Variety: Opove M3 Pro 2 Massage Gun
Why it’s worth it: Soothing different areas of pain requires versatility from your device, and that’s exactly what Opove’s M3 Pro 2 Massage Gun provides. This massage gun is equipped with seven different massage head attachments to provide pin-point precision, blunt pressure, and everything in between. When paired with any of its five percussive speed settings, solace is guaranteed to come your sore muscles’ way.
Massage settings: 5 force levels (31, 40, 53, 62, and 70 lbs | Attachments: 7
Best for Travel: Ekrin Athletics Bantam Mini Massage Gun
Why it’s worth it: Like to take your wellness essentials on the go? Then consider Ekrin’s Athletics Bantam Mini Massage Gun your new travel buddy. This compact device features three massage settings to minimize pains, aches, and knots—no matter where you are. Considering this device has a six-hour battery life on a full charge, you can expect it to last most (if not the entirety) of your trip.
Massage settings: 3 (2000, 2600, and 3200 RPM, a.k.a. revolutions per minute) | Attachments: 4 (flat, bullet, round, fork)
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a massage gun soothe muscles?
The muscle-soothing magic comes from percussive therapy, as in a combination of vibrations and pressure that kneads tissue. By utilizing percussive massage, these devices provide muscle relief from resting tension and stiffness by facilitating blood flow and lymphatic drainage throughout the muscles, according to Giangrasso. “I often use a massage gun with clients and on myself to reduce and manipulate any resting tension, open up blood vessels to increase oxygen to the muscles, which has a result of increasing blood flow to the muscle, and as an added aspect to a warm-up,” he says.
How do I use a massage gun?
Whether you’re using a percussion massage gun in tandem with a workout routine or for temporary tightness from, say, sleeping on the wrong side of your shoulder for too long, Giangrasso recommends incorporating it as the first part of your warm-up routine before performing any dynamic movement or lifting weights—for example, if you have a lot to carry or a long walk during the day, you may want to massage beforehand. If you’re new to massage guns, he recommends first testing a low setting on the palm of your hand to get acquainted with the feel and functionality of your device before using it to address muscle pain.
