Have you ever tried a massage gun? While you may think they're just another fitness fad that will go away over time, they are in fact a legitimate and viable tool to aid recovery, whether you're recovering from a workout or from an injury.

When you hear the term "percussion" you probably think of a big drum in an orchestra, but the origin of the word actually means, "to strike something forcibly". That's a little clue into exactly what a massage gun is doing when it's vibrating on your body. 

But what are the actual benefits? Does it just feel good with no real therapeutic function? We're going to take a look at exactly how a massage gun can help you.

Recovery

The first and most commonly known benefit of percussion therapy is its ability to encourage the recovery of muscles after exertion. 

The best thing you can do for a muscle after using it extensively is to relax it. But the reality is that we often feel tense and stiff after a workout. A muscle massage gun helps to relax the muscle and relieve tension. It will also help blood flow into the muscle which again speeds up the recovery process.

Pain Relief

Muscle tightness and soreness can be a painful part of your post-training experience. DOMS or Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness is caused by microscopic tears in the muscle fibers. This in turn causes inflammation. A muscle massage gun can help reduce this inflammation by helping the blood flow into the muscle, meaning more oxygen and nutrition gets through it, relieving pain.

Rehabilitation

Beyond regular recovery after exercise, percussive therapy for muscle strains and other injuries can be very beneficial. Again, improved circulation is key here. But not only does the therapy speed up the healing process, but it can also prevent re-injury further down the line. 

As healing progresses, tension is relieved, the muscle strengthens and becomes more flexible, thus meaning by the time healing is complete, the muscle could even be in better condition than it was pre-injury. 

Long before the popularity of massage guns, deep tissue massage has long been regarded as an effective treatment for musculoskeletal issues like strains and sprains. The clue to how it works is in the name—the deepest layers of the muscle are often neglected in "lighter" massages, so prolonged, deep pressure on the muscles can relieve inflammation in areas that would be otherwise hard to reach.

Thanks to muscle massage guns, you no longer need to book an appointment with a professional to get the benefits of a deep tissue massage.

General Wellness

Incorporating percussive therapy into a daily routine can do much more than just help you recover from injury. Sleep is widely regarded as one of the most, if not the most important factor in recovery. A relaxed body with good circulation will give you a better chance of a good night's sleep.

The benefits of sleep are better physical and mental health, and that means depression, anxiety, and many other issues can be improved by percussive therapy.

Get Yourself a Massage Gun and Enjoy the Benefits

A massage gun can mean you can do more of what you love, whether it's lifting weights, cycling, or rock climbing. Faster recovery means more fun!

Even if you're injured the rehabilitative benefits of a massage gun could see you back in action sooner rather than later.

Learn more about the Vibra96 and how it can benefit you on our blog page.