Let’s talk through exactly what this therapy is and how it could benefit you. After all, if it’s good enough for the pros…
HOW DOES PERCUSSIVE THERAPY WORK?
Percussive or percussion (the terms are used interchangeably) is a type of therapy that utilises fast and repetitive vibrations from the massage head to an area of muscle in order to provide a host of benefits. These include aiding muscle performance, providing soothing pain relief for aching muscles, enhancing physical recovery routines, increasing blood flow, and so much more.
And, best of all, massage gun therapy only takes a few minutes to start feeling the positive results.
Being able to manage those dull aches, tension – and, let’s face it, extreme pain – after we exercise is the best way to place us into a focused and positive attitude, not just when it comes to physical activity but also in our daily mindsets.
Living with pain and discomfort will directly affect just about everything, and when it comes to exercise, working out in discomfort can have the potential to lead to injury because it can affect how we exercise.
With a massage gun, pains and discomfort can be eliminated quickly, and sometimes even immediately. It’s little wonder then that this therapy has exploded in popularity over recent years. And, if you haven’t tried it, you’re really missing out.
Let’s talk about the benefits of massage gun therapy in more detail.
THE BENEFITS OF PERCUSSIVE THERAPY
There are numerous benefits of percussion massagers, that we will discuss below.
1. PREVENTS DELAYED ONSET MUSCLE SORENESS
DOMS, otherwise known as Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness, occurs when you perform physical activity that pushes your muscles much more than usual. It’s painful, debilitating, and can last anywhere from 24 hours to 3, even 4 days at a time.
Thankfully, it doesn’t need to be put up with.
Massage guns can improve the strength of the muscles, therefore improving physical performance and can often prevent DOMS from creeping up.
2. IMPROVE RANGE OF MOTION
The vibrations given off from this therapy can result in greater flexibility as it works to synchronise the muscle spindles. When a muscle group gains in range of motion, it also becomes stronger, more resilient and much less prone to pain and injury.
Improving flexibility will also go a long way to helping your balance as well as your posture, gait and overall walking. This is particularly beneficial for those who may have suffered a stroke or have osteoarthritis in the knees.
3. INCREASES BLOOD FLOW
Overtraining physically, whether you’re killing it in the gym or tramping up a storm, can cause a lot of difficulties with muscle pain. This is due to the build-up of metabolites that collects in the muscles after a period of physical exertion.
In order to counter this, it’s important to increase the circulation of blood in the affected muscle tissue. By doing so, the muscle can be quickly relieved of the pain and discomfort caused by any inflammation and tension.
4. IMPROVES LYMPHATIC FLOW
When you have fewer knots, tightness and general discomfort in the muscles, the lymphatic system is free to drain more efficiently, eliminating toxins and waste with ease which can lead to increased immune health and improved metabolism.
5. FAST RELIEF FOR TIRED MUSCLES
Probably one of the biggest benefits of this type of therapy is how fast it is – in only a few minutes, you can really begin to feel the benefit of this massage technique, so there’s no waiting around for the results to show themselves.
6. PROMOTES RELAXATION
Massage gun therapy could be just the thing you are looking for when it comes to relaxing. We can all feel a bit overwhelmed after a gruelling workout, and many people claim this form of therapy does wonders in alleviating some of those negative feelings.
While there are no clinical studies attesting to the power of this therapy when it comes to feelings of stress, it’s something you should trust us on, or better still, try it for yourself.
IS PERCUSSIVE THERAPY RIGHT FOR YOU?
Percussive massage treatment can be very beneficial for a wide range of muscle soreness, ranging from mild to more prolonged and intense pain.
A massage gun also works great when you have tension or pain before or after a particularly intense workout; it will allow you to warm up and reduce any muscle stiffness. Massage guns used within approximately 48 hours before high-intensity workouts can also significantly reduce the risk of DOMS.
The treatment is perfect for those who have an active lifestyle and also suffer from muscle tension. It also has proven benefits for a wide range of illnesses and ailments including:
- Shin splints
- Sciatica
- TMJ Syndrome
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- General muscle soreness
- And much more!
FAQS
HOW DOES THIS THERAPY DIFFER FROM VIBRATION THERAPY?
Vibration therapy aims to relieve general stress and tension and provide an increase in the flow of blood. It can be used locally or on the whole body to promote recovery by allowing the muscles to relax. Vibration therapy can work very effectively in providing relief for minor stiffness or muscle soreness.
Percussive therapy, however, is a more intense and targeted type of therapy for muscle recovery. The massage guns used work much deeper than vibration therapy and will target a specific area or muscle and also stimulates blood flow.
CAN ANYONE USE PERCUSSIVE THERAPY?
While this type of therapy is great for the majority of individuals to relieve sore muscles, there are certain instances where it should not be used. For example, if you have a pulled muscle, a massage gun can do more harm than good.
Similarly, if you have DVT or nerve sensitivity, you should not consider this type of therapy as it can, in certain instances, be harmful to these conditions.
CAN A MASSAGE GUN BE USED IN PREGNANCY?
While it is possible (and beneficial) to have percussion therapy whilst pregnant, you will need to seek the advice of a medical professional before you before commencing treatment. If your doctor advises against it, a massage gun procedure should not be carried out.
CAN MASSAGE GUNS HELP WITH STRESS?
While there is no scientific backing to suggest that this form of physical therapy is beneficial in managing stress, numerous percussive therapy users claim that it works wonders in relaxing the body and the mind.
FINAL THOUGHTS
As we have seen, percussive therapy offers numerous benefits. This targeted muscle treatment can relieve muscle tension, reduce inflammation, delay DOMS and even potentially reduce stress.
As far as the best physical therapies go, percussive therapy is proving one of the most popular. And with all the benefits that can come from a quick session, it really is worth a try to see just how much it could physically – and mentally – benefit you.
