It is no secret that we always seek the best way to recover from exhausting everyday activities. New products or procedures designed to improve our endurance tend to go viral. Some of these include compression socks, CBD (Cannabidiol) oil, salt baths, and, of course, a massage gun is not an exception.
However, there are some disadvantages coming from these remedies, especially a massage gun. So before using it, you need to know what it really is and what the massage gun’s disadvantages are to your muscles. Read on to learn more!
Table of Contents
What exactly is a Massage Gun?
A massage gun is a tool that provides rapid pressure to muscles using a short-duration pulse. It is commonly used to treat a variety of conditions, including muscle aches and stress.
The goal of vibration therapy is to help improve the function and appearance of muscles by stimulating blood flow and releasing tight and sore tissues. It’s similar to a massage.
These are battery-operated massage guns that can be used for various types of massage. They have varying speed settings to massage different parts of the body. Most of these guns have interchangeable heads that target different muscle groups.
Check this out too: Best Massage Gun For Sciatica
The Advantages of a Massage Gun
There is a lot of positive use coming from a massage gun, especially for a runner.
Here are some of its advantages.
It helps increase the performance of the muscles.
According to a study, using vibration and/or percussion therapy before exercise can help decrease tissue adhesion and improve the flow of lactic acid in the blood. It also helps decrease the time it takes for fatigue to subside. These factors can help improve running performance.
It aids in the prevention of muscle soreness.
The dreaded delayed onset muscle soreness, also known as DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness), is a common problem for runners. It usually happens within 24 to 28 hours following hard or intense exercise.
This condition is caused by microscopic tears that can occur in the muscles during exercise. It can hinder a person’s ability to perform their workouts, and it can even prevent them from moving properly. Changing your running gait can cause further injury if you have sore hamstring muscles.
A study conducted on the effects of vibration therapy on the prevention of DOMS revealed that it could help decrease the number of tears in the muscle. This is because the therapy helps prevent the buildup of mechanical stress on the muscles.
It helps muscles recover quickly and increases blood flow.
When used after an exercise, a percussion massage gun can temporarily increase the blood flow to the muscle. This can aid in recovery by removing waste products from damaged tissue. The increased blood flow can also nourish and stimulate the muscle tissue, which can help stimulate tissue growth.
It is best for relieving pain.
Despite your best efforts to prevent soreness, you may still have sore muscles. One of the most effective ways to treat these conditions is by getting a massage. This is because percussion massage guns can help improve the feel of your muscles.
The concept states that the sensory neurons that are involved in perceiving pain and the sensory neurons that are involved in the transmission of information to the brain are both connected to the same afferent nerve.
When activated by afferent sensation, the neurons that are involved in this process block or suppress the messages sent by the pain neurons.
The Disadvantages of a Massage Gun
There are many reasons why a percussion massage gun has a negative impact on your recovery. In this section, we will talk about massage guns’ disadvantages and the reasons why this type of tool has a negative impact on your body.
Massage depends on the knowledge of the user.
Are you a trained massage therapist? If you are not, chances are that you have no idea what you are doing when it comes to using the massage gun. This means that there is a chance that you could end up doing the wrong thing.
For instance, you might be using the massage gun on an area experiencing pain but not the one needing immediate help.
We asked a licensed massage therapist if she thought using a massage gun was a good idea. Michele Zeberlein, who is a certified massage therapist, said that it is only as good as the user when it comes to using it. However, it can also cause issues if you are unfamiliar with how to use it.
A massage gun is not good for chronic injury conditions.
While it is important to use a massage gun safely, it is also important to avoid injuries such as strains, fractures, and lacerations. It can potentially worsen the condition of the tissue and increase the swelling rate.
If you are suffering from chronic pain, such as osteoarthritis or fibromyalgia, you should use extreme caution while using a massage gun. Other conditions that can affect your blood vessels include those that are caused by autoimmune diseases such as scleroderma and lupus. In addition, other muscle disorders, such as osteoporosis, can also affect your blood vessels.
A massage gun is a kind of heavy and noisy device.
Although the various types of percussion massage guns are not the same, some of them can be heavy and bulky.
For instance, the HydraGun is only 2.3 pounds, and we’re surprised by how much it weighed when. It is logical to assume that the battery should be large enough to provide enough power to the motor, which moves quickly.
A massage gun relies on a battery.
Although most massage guns are made of non-toxic materials, they still require a power source to function. This is different from a standard foam roller or a handheld massage tool, which is powered by a human-powered battery.
If you are planning on participating in a long-distance event, such as a stage race or ultramarathon, make sure that the battery life of the gun is maintained.
A massage gun is expensive.
The range of percussion massage guns is huge. We have seen them go from around $50 to $1,200. The most expensive one we have seen is the G3PRO Theragun, which is a limited-edition product that comes with a gold-plated gun. These are not cheap, and they are definitely an investment.
Is it Necessary to Use a Massage Gun for Muscle Recovery?
The question is, are these massage guns worth it? We are sure there are plenty of people out there who think so, and the endless advertisements on Facebook may have convinced us that these are the best things since sliced bread. However, they will not completely solve or prevent sore muscles.
There is plenty of evidence supporting the use of vibration and percussion therapy for treating muscle soreness, but there is also conflicting evidence supporting its effectiveness.
Final Thoughts
Before using a percussion massage gun, make sure that you read the safety instructions. Also, if you are unsure about where to target the massager, consult a licensed massage therapist or physician.
Furthermore, if you have any questions about how to use it or the massage gun’s disadvantages, depending on your medical condition (if any), such as pregnancy or chronic conditions , consult your doctor.
Make sure you like the type of massage gun that you use. There are varying opinions about how they feel, with some people finding them relaxing and others not wanting to use them. Also, if you are not planning on using a recovery tool or method, it will not be very effective.
There are a variety of brands of massage guns available right now. The price tag can be a determining factor when it comes to buying a product. On the other hand, an inexpensive one might not be considered junk.