Massage guns are an awesome and underrated way to get a massage at home. These devices use vibrations from a handheld gun to penetrate into your skin, loosening up tense muscles and soothing them from the inside out. A good massage can leave you feeling refreshed and ready to take on the rest of your day.
However, they can also be quite exhausting if you’re not used to them. That’s why you probably won't want to do it every day – even though there are some pros who do so religiously! These massagers have multiple benefits that make them worth investing in for regular use. They help break up lactic acid buildup in sore muscles after exercise, loosen up tense neck and shoulder muscles after long hours of typing or studying, or just relax the body after a busy or stressful day.
How Often Should You Use a Massage Gun?
That depends on who you ask. There is no “one size fits all” for how often you should use a massage gun, although there are a few general guidelines that are worth keeping in mind. Generally speaking, those with more relaxed, less-stiff muscles would likely benefit from more regular massage than those with chronically tight muscles. If you’re not sure where you fall between these two extremes, you can use these guidelines as a starting point.
As with most things in life, moderation is key. Using massage guns too often can actually cause more harm than good, potentially causing you to develop an addiction to their effects. If you use them every day, your muscles will get too relaxed and not have enough stimulation to grow or stretch properly.
On the other hand, if you don’t use them often enough, you won’t get all the benefits that come with regular massage therapy. The recommended usage is around once a week for the average person. This allows for optimal frequency for all the benefits of massage therapy without overstimulating the muscles and causing harm or discomfort. If you have chronic pain or muscle stiffness, you may want to increase this to once every two weeks.
What is the Recommended Frequency?
Depending on what you hope to achieve with regular massage, you may benefit more from a few times a week (for general relaxation and aching muscles) or a few times a month (for chronic pain relief and muscle tightness). If you have chronically tight or sore muscles, or you regularly exercise or work out, you may want to consider doing a massage a few times a month. Doing so will help you to maintain long-term relief from pains caused by tight muscles.
If you’re just looking for a general way to relax and soothe your muscles at the end of a busy day, doing so a few times a week will likely be sufficient. There is no “wrong” way to use a massage gun, but there are definitely better and worse ways to do so.
Targets - In general, you should aim to massage each major muscle group (legs, arms, and torso) once a week. If you’re using the massage gun regularly, you can also massage smaller muscles, such as the muscles in the face.
Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness - Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness (also known as DOMS) happens when your muscles are overworked and then don’t have enough time to heal. This can happen when you exercise when you sit in an uncomfortable position for too long, or when you lift something too heavy without warming up first. Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness is characterized by an achy, inflamed feeling. You can use a massage gun to help relieve these symptoms.
Fascial Stretching - Your fascia is a layer of connective tissue that covers muscles. It helps them move, but it can also cause pain when overstretched. You can massage your fascia to help relieve these issues.
The Benefits of Using a Massage Gun Regularly
You may experience improved blood flow and circulation, a reduction in pain, better sleep quality, and reduced anxiety and stress levels. Some benefits of regular massage therapy (not just with a massage gun!) include a stronger immune system, a reduction in blood pressure, and enhanced athletic performance.
It’s also been shown to reduce stress, anxiety, and tension, while positively affecting the nervous system. Regular massage can be helpful in relieving symptoms of certain illnesses, such as fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, and numerous digestive disorders.
Beyond the immediate stress-relieving and relaxing benefits of massage, regular use of a massage gun is also useful for long-term health. Massaging regularly (ideally with a good massage gun) can help to combat chronic aches and pains, such as general muscle tightness, as well as aid in the recovery process after particularly strenuous workouts.
Massaging your muscles can also help to keep them healthy and hydrated. For example, massage can help to clear the buildup of lactic acid in your muscles after a particularly strenuous workout. This buildup can leave you feeling sore and achy. Regular massage can also help reverse the effects of muscle atrophy – the gradual weakening of muscles typically caused by physical inactivity. This can be particularly useful for those with mobility issues due to disabilities.
Regular massage can help to slow down (or even halt) atrophy and keep your muscles strong as you age. Massage can also help to improve your blood circulation and reduce blood pressure, as well as reduce stress and anxiety levels and improve sleep quality.
When Should You Use a Massage Gun?
The best time to use a massage gun is after strenuous exercise. This allows you to combat delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) effectively, get rid of toxins in your muscles, and make your muscles stronger. If you’re experiencing pain in certain areas of your body, you can also use a massage gun to help alleviate it. If you’re suffering from migraines or have tension headaches, this can be a helpful and relaxing way to address the issue. If you’re feeling stressed or anxious and have a hard time calming down, a massage can help. This can also help you fall asleep more easily.
The best time to use a massage gun is whenever you need it most. That could be after a long, stressful day, a particularly strenuous workout, or any other time that you feel like your muscles are tense. If you’re looking to combat chronic muscle tightness, it’s a good idea to use a massage gun a few times a month.
Using one once or twice a week might be a bit much for your muscles, but it would likely be too infrequent to provide you with long-term benefits. If you’re looking for a general way to relax, it’s best to use a massage gun a couple of times a week. Doing so once a week may be too infrequent to help you relax fully, but doing it any more frequently might be too much for your muscles.
When Should You Not Use a Massaging Gun?
If you’re in pain and are looking for a quick solution, massage therapy is not a good option. It’s not going to help you get better any faster. You can use a massage gun to help manage your pain, but it’s not going to reduce it as quickly as popping ibuprofen or taking a hot bath might. If you’re trying to grow new muscle, a massage gun may not be the best option for you. While it can lead to some growth, it’s not as effective as other options, such as weightlifting or resistance training. If you have a serious or chronic health disorder, massage therapy may or may not be helpful, but it shouldn’t be your first option. You should consult with a doctor first to determine what course of action is best for you.
If you’re recovering from an injury, it’s best to wait to use a massage gun until you’re fully healed. Doing so while you’re still injured can actually slow your recovery down and make your injury worse.
If you have any open wounds (even if they’re not directly in the area that you plan to massage), wait until they’ve fully healed to use a massage gun. Doing so while they’re open could lead to infection. If you are particularly tired or stressed out, it’s best to hold off on using a massage gun (or any other strenuous activity) until you feel a bit more relaxed. Exhausting yourself further won’t help you to relax – it’ll just leave you more tired and stressed out.
A Few Times Per Week: The Most Commonly Recommended Usage.
A few times per week is a great way to reap the benefits of massage without overdoing it. This can be beneficial for people who have busy lifestyles and don’t have time to schedule a relaxing full-body massage or those who don’t have regular access to massage therapy. Using a massage gun regularly is also great for people who have chronically tense muscles, such as those who spend long hours at the computer or behind a desk. Massage can help break up some of the lactic acid buildups that can contribute to muscle stiffness.
This is a good frequency for those who want to maintain general relaxation and combat chronic aches and pains, but don’t want to go overboard. It’s a good frequency for those with moderately tight muscles. If you’re more on the “constantly tight” end of the scale, you may want to consider upping the frequency to once a week, or even once every two weeks, to really make a difference. Regular massage can help to keep your muscles hydrated, healthy, and relaxed. It’s a great way to unwind at the end of the day and calm tense muscles before bed. You can use your massage gun whenever you need it most, without worrying that it’ll be too much for you.
Weekly: To Aid Recovery After Exercise or for Those With Consistently Tight Muscles.
If you’re someone who exercises often, you may be familiar with the discomfort that can follow. Every time you work out, your muscles get strained. They need time to heal, but they also need to stay active to stay healthy. Massage therapy is an effective way to aid muscle recovery. You can use your massage gun to help your muscles heal and stay strong, especially if you are as active as an athlete. Another reason for weekly massages is if you have chronically tight muscles. You can use a massage gun to help them stay loose and relaxed. You can also use it to help stretch your muscles and keep them from getting too tight.
If you’re looking to aid your recovery after a particularly strenuous workout, or if you’re just dealing with tight muscles no matter what you do, you may want to consider massaging regularly. If you’re just looking to aid recovery, using your massage gun once a week should be plenty. If you have particularly tight muscles, you may want to massage them a bit more frequently to help them to relax. If you’re trying to combat chronic pain, you may want to massage a bit more often. It’s up to you to decide how often works best for you.
Once Every Two Weeks: To Get the Benefits of Massaging Without a High Degree of Exertion.
This is for people who want the benefits of regular massage, but don’t want to exert a lot of effort. You can still relax and unwind, but it’s less strenuous than a full-body massage. This is also a good option if you’re dealing with chronic muscle tightness or pain. It allows you to just get the benefits of massage without letting it be as invasive as a full-body massage can be. You can also use it to help your muscles relax after a long week of work. Just lie down, put on a soothing playlist, and let the massage do the work for you.
If you’re not too keen on regular massage but still want some of the long-term benefits, using a massage gun a few times a month may be just what you need. You can get the relaxing benefits of massage without having to be fully relaxed. It’s also a good idea if you’re worried about exhausting yourself with massage and don’t have much time to spare. As long as you’re not doing it too often, using your massage gun every other week will give you some of the benefits of massage without being too taxing on your body.
Once a Month: To Help Combat Chronic Pain and Muscle Stiffness.
If you’re suffering from chronic pains, it’s possible that massage could help to ease those pains and keep them at bay. Regularly massaging your muscles can help to clear lactic acid buildup, which can lead to chronic pain. It can also help to improve your blood flow, which can lead to less pain overall. It can also help to relieve tense muscles, which are more likely to cause pain, especially if they’re chronically tight. If you want to combat chronic muscle aches and pains with massage, it’s best to use a massage gun once a month. Doing so once a week may be too much for your muscles, and doing it less frequently may not be enough to provide you with long-term relief.
How to Use a Massage Gun for Maximum Benefits?
If you’re going to go for it and try out a massage gun for the first time, there are a few ways you can get the most out of it. Now that we’ve discussed what a massage gun is and how often you might want to use it, let’s talk about how to actually use one!
- Choose the Right Gun - The first thing you’ll want to do is make sure you’ve chosen the right type of massage gun for your needs. While all massage guns are generally designed to do the same thing, some will be better for certain body parts than others.
- Get Comfortable - Once you’ve chosen your gun, make sure you’ve got yourself comfortable. If you’re clothed, you can simply lay down on a bed or couch. If you’re naked, you can either lay down or sit in a comfy chair. A massage table is ideal, but if you don’t have one, a bed or a couch will work just as well. Make sure you’re somewhere where you can fully relax and let go of your thoughts.
- Find the right settings - Each massage gun is different, so you can try different settings to find what works best for you.
- Try Different Strokes - While there’s no one correct way to massage yourself, there are some things you can do to make the experience more enjoyable. For example, you might want to try experimenting with different types of strokes. You can also try varying the speed of the massage.
- Experiment with Different Areas - Finally, you should experiment with different areas of the body. This will ensure that you’re not always massaging the same parts of your body over and over.
- Let go of any expectations - Massage is great, but it’s not a quick fix. It takes time, effort, and patience to receive the full benefits of massage.
Massage is a great way to relieve stress, improve circulation, and promote relaxation. While massages can be expensive, owning a massage gun is a great way to get the same benefits at home. You can use a massage gun to help with muscle recovery after exercising.