Equip yourself with a self-massage gun and enjoy its many benefits! It is indeed effective in relaxing muscles, but it will also help you soothe pain and provide you with absolute well-being after rapid and optimal muscle recovery. However, it is difficult to choose from the plethora of equipment that floods the market: How to choose your self-massage gun? In this guide, find the most important purchase criteria as well as a selection of the best devices of the moment.
WHAT IS A SELF-MASSAGE GUN USED FOR?
This is a specially designed hand-held device that allows you to massage yourself, or that your physio will use to:
- Loosen your muscles
- Reduce their pain
- Improve blood circulation
- Optimizing warm-up exercises
It has many advantages:
- Its pressure is more powerful than that of the fingers of a masseur
- Its speed is sustained
- It relaxes deep muscles
- It is equipped with an ergonomic handle
- Its interchangeable heads facilitate control for well-targeted treatments
- Tips are soft and skin-friendly
- It is ideal for followers of shiatsu massage.
WHAT ARE THE DETERMINING FACTORS IN CHOOSING A SELF-MASSAGE GUN?
His power
The power of a self-massage gun reflects its ability to provide more or less strong pressure on the points to be massaged. It is expressed in watts and in the number of percussions per second or per minute. The higher these values are, the more powerful it is.
Before leaning towards a device, it is advisable to dwell on the available speed levels as well as the possible rotations to see if it really adapts to your expectations.
Its ergonomics
Generally speaking, a good pistol is compact and fits firmly in the palm. It also offers an easy and comfortable grip for a precise and effortless massage. In addition, its handle must be non-slip so that it does not slip if your hand is sweaty.
Modern car devices are equipped with tips or heads that perform distinct functions. The most common are spherical, flat, conical or U-shaped. These are also commonly called “forks” or “forks”.
It is also necessary to favor devices that are easily parameterized. Those with an LED screen are very practical, the intensity of the pressures being clearly displayed there as well as the level of the battery.
His weight
Certainly, a muscle massage gun must be compact, nevertheless its weight must be reasonable so that its use does not tire your arm or your wrist. This mass can also be decisive if you have to carry it daily or if you plan to travel with it, so that it does not weigh heavily in your luggage.
Finally, ideally, it should come with a carrying case for easy storage.
Its autonomy
Modern self-massage guns are cordless, powered by a rechargeable lithium ion battery. In general, high-end devices have a battery life of 3 hours.
Its noise pollution
Often an entry-level gun is noisy and can have a sound amplitude reaching 60 dB, thus risking affecting your comfort and that of those around you. The most efficient are almost silent and rarely exceed 45 dB.
His price
The price of an electric massager is usually between 250 and 650 euros.
CHOOSE YOUR SELF-MASSAGE GUN
Hypervolt 2
The Hypervolt 2 massage gun is the new generation of HYPERICE self-massage devices. This model is 300g lighter than the previous model, while offering a more intense massage to the athlete. Equipped with a Bluetooth connection , it is connected to the Hyperice application, allowing you to adjust the massage speed directly from your smartphone between the 3 speeds offered. The Hypervolt 2 is provided with 5 massage attachments for a complete treatment of the athlete’s body.
Its biggest advantage is the integration of HyperSmart technology, allowing the user to be guided on the best exercise routines adapted to their needs. This is enabled through the connection between the Hyperice app and the Strava or Apple Health account.
Hypervolt 2 Pro
Professional version of the Hypervolt 2, the Hypervolt 2 Pro massage gun is the latest Hyperice innovation designed specifically for top athletes and health professionals (physiotherapists). The most powerful device on the market (90W), this massage gun offers athletes 5 adjustable massage speeds from the application and digital button and 5 massage tips for a treatment totally adapted to their needs, morphology and different muscle groups.
Its Bluetooth connection and the patented Pressure Sensor technology make it the most technological device in its range. It is also equipped with HyperSmart technology , allowing you to obtain the routines best suited to your needs. The Hypervolt 2 Pro is used by top athletes like Erling HAALAND .
Theragun PRO
The Theragun Pro’s motor develops 2,400 percussions per minute and produces a tracking force of 27 kg. It also boasts of reaching a depth of 16mm. It appears in the weight standards of its competitors with its mass of 1.3 kg. Thanks to its 5 heads, it will nevertheless allow you to carry out all the types of massage desired. Its two batteries offer an average use time of 5 hours. Finally, its triangular design guarantees a good grip and allows you to massage hard-to-reach areas. Thanks to its Bluetooth connection, this gun is connected to the Therabody application and allows you to benefit from personalized treatment according to your activity. This application offers treatment protocols designed by health professionals and adapted to each user.
Compex Fixx
Here is a pistol that has won over the public because of its light weight of 1 kg and whose autonomy is 1h30. Its motor provides 2,700 percussions per minute, but you can adjust its frequency on 3 levels. Its ergonomics are optimized by its handle offering 4 gripping angles, allowing you to easily massage your back. Lastly, it comes with 3 heads that reach a depth of 14mm. It can also be combined with an articulated arm.
Theragun ELITE
Compact and ergonomic, this gun provides 2,400 percussions per minute, but you can set its rate in 5 levels. It is also powerful with its tracking force of 18 kg. A full battery charge takes an average of 2 hours. The 5 tips that come with it are practical for kneading your muscles, even the deepest ones. The noise it produces is very tolerable, finally, its weight is 1 kg, which makes it the lightest on the market. Its Bluetooth connection allows intelligent and optimized percussion therapy with the Therabody app. Personalized training is therefore made possible with this technology.
Theragun PRIME
The Theragun PRIME will delight you with the pressure provided of 13 kg and its unique speed of 2,400 percussions per minute. Its 4 heads will allow you to perform essential massages. It is compact and light, it weighs only 1 kg. Its autonomy is 2h and its battery takes 1h20 to recharge. Finally, on the noise side, it is much more discreet than the previous version. Its Bluetooth connection that connects the device to the Therabody application allows you to follow training routines very easily.
To conclude, the massage gun is essential for athletes, physiotherapists as well as for anyone who needs to relax their muscles after intense physical exertion. The choice of devices being vast, it will be made according to your needs. Professionals, for example, will look for the most complete equipment. Users who do not require elaborate functionalities will opt for models with relative power or with fewer heads.
Theragun MINI
The Theragun MINI is the smallest and most compact massage gun in the Theragun lineup, allowing you to take it anywhere with you. Very light and ultra silent given its small size, it is nonetheless powerful since it is as powerful as the massage guns in the Theragun range. Its lightness will allow you to relieve your muscle tension and treat your pain with ease. It has one of the longest autonomy offering you up to 2h30 of use without needing to recharge it. It has a percussion amplitude of 12 mm with a force of up to 9 kg. It is supplied with a single Theragun massage tip, but all of the tips in the range can be adapted to this model.
