How to Use a Percussion Massage Gun Properly & Effectively

Have you ever wondered how to use a massage gun effectively and safely? We are assuming that you are aware of these well-known tools and the wonders they have brought to the fitness and wellness sector. 

Massage guns are the best alternative to massage therapists. Although you can never bring your spa around with you, they can never replace the experience you get at a spa. 

We will go into great detail about how to use percussion massagers as home gym equipment in this post. 

What a Massage Gun Does to Your Body?

Are massagers really that helpful? The answer, in our opinion, is "yes." In fact, massagers are very helpful. 

Why do you think they're so popular and even supported by well-known fitness industry representatives and renowned celebrities? We've seen these devices being approved by doctors and therapists, so even if you think the hype from celebrities is all talk and no action, they really are that great. 

According to what fitness influencers say, a massage gun can: 

Prevent DOMS

Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) can be painful, especially if you want to keep working out intensely. You can avoid the postponed pain and maintain your strength for the next workout by using a massage gun.

Improve blood flow in the muscles

This promotes relaxation in the body and even stimulates the muscles in preparation for a workout. After some strenuous activity, massaging can remove toxic blood and liquid from the muscle. 

Massage guns will save you money

A Lyric massage gun will save you at least a couple hundred dollars when compared to the expense of seeing a professional therapist. 

Why It’s Important to Use a Massage Gun Properly?

The importance of using things properly cannot be emphasized enough, especially with regard to electronic devices. It's never a good idea to presume you are an expert on a device and don't pay attention to proper use. 

Essentially, the manufacturers know this and that’s why most of the best percussion massage guns come with an instruction booklet that is clear and concise.

Here are some reasons why using a Bliss massager properly is important: 

Effective muscle therapy

When used properly, a massage gun can provide muscular therapy that is just as effective as going to a massage therapist.

To avoid injury

It's not unheard of for deep tissue massage guns to injure people, especially when misused carelessly. 

To avoid damage to the gun

Little items like percussion gun massagers are not cheap. Due to the oversupply of guns on the market, prices have dropped. However, you will need to spend at least $150 on a quality massage gun. 

How to Use a Percussion Massage Gun?

After examining the benefits of using the best percussion massage gun properly, let's move on to the how-to. 

Currently, articles on the internet claim that there is no right way to use these devices and that you should simply experiment with the settings until you find something that works for you. While this may be true, it may not apply to everyone. 

Here’s our step-by-step on how to use a percussion massager properly: 

Turn on the device. The majority of guns just have one button. Most require a long press to activate the device. The gun will then begin to spin. 

Make sure that the selected massage head is connected. If you're a newbie, we advise starting with the soft ball head. In contrast to the other attachments, it’s actually gentle and targets most of the body. 

Choose the desired intensity. If you just want to unwind and get the blood flowing through your muscles, we recommend using the first speed. Most devices now start at a low enough speed (we like those that start at around 1200 rpm), while some may start with higher percussions. 

Point the head at the muscle and let the gun do its thing. Due to the extended amplitude, if you're using a high-end gun like the Ekrin, you'll see the punchy effect on your skin immediately. The first sensation might not be punchy if you're using a smaller pistol, like the Ekrin Bantam, but it should still feel intense enough.

Move the head along the muscle slowly. Keep your pace slow during the massage, do not rush it. If you come across a painful spot, stay there a little bit longer. Avoid pressing the pistol firmly against a sore spot because you can end up worsening the issue.

It is suggested that you only lightly brush the massage gun head over areas that have a few muscles, such as your wrists. Avoid applying excessive pressure to these areas. Make it simple for effective results. 

If you have larger muscles, though, you might prefer something a little more intense. It's probably a good idea at this point to inform you that each gun has a unique stall force. You may decide to choose a high-end gun and relaxation gadget like the Achedaway Pro or the Ekrin B37s. These guns both have a high amplitude massage as well as a better stall force. 

We also recommend starting with a little bit more intensity. This is because most guns have progressive stall forces and easily stall at slower speeds. 

You should apply the percussion gun massager for 1-2 minutes on a specific muscle. Focus on the smaller muscle groups for one minute. Larger muscle groups can be massaged for two minutes. 

When to Use a Percussion Massage Gun & How Often You Should Use It?

Before exercise

You can use these tools before a workout session, even though many people in the fitness industry have advertised them as recovery tools. This guarantees proper blood flow throughout your body and prepares your muscles for exercise by turning on your body's "fight-or-flight system," which gets your body ready for movement. Aim for the areas you're going to train for the best results. 

As an example, you should make sure to massage your pecs for roughly 30 seconds before doing a bench press. Don't go overboard!

During your workout

You can use a deep tissue massage gun between sets. This may be handy when you feel tension or stiffness within the muscle group you’re exercising. 

Instead of stretching in this situation, use your massage gun. Don't get too excited; 15 seconds should be enough. The goal is to get the muscle to contract. 

After a workout

Your body is in a heightened state after a workout, so the best thing you can do is get it relaxed. The use of a massage gun (deep tissue massager) is then necessary. Spend about 1-2 minutes massaging the tense muscles. 

Again, it's important to aim for the muscle's belly and stay away from joints and bony areas. It is recommended to avoid massaging your muscles straight away. Give your body a few hours to relax before starting the massage. 

Here’s a summary of how often you should use a deep-tissue massage gun: 

• Muscle activation: When you need to get the body ready for a workout or an activity; don’t do it for over 30 seconds. 
• Muscle reactivation: When you are exercising, when you get muscle spasms, or when you are starting to feel tired. 
• Recovery and relieving pain: A percussion gun massager will speed up the recovery after a workout. It can also be used to ease pain. In this instance, it serves as a temporary painkiller device. Use it for a minute or two here. 

Avoid jarring or pushing too hard on sensitive areas. The heated massage mode on these devices is yet another extremely helpful feature. Heated massages are essential for reducing pain. 

How Long Should You Use a Percussion Massage Gun for?

The best electric massagers are equipped with rechargeable batteries. These batteries may overheat if they’re used for an extended period of time. This overheating could be unpleasant while using them. 

However, the smart people who make these gadgets realized this and included a shut-off feature in them. After around 10 minutes of nonstop use, most devices turn themselves off automatically. 

Nevertheless, superior devices will turn off automatically after 20 minutes because 10 minutes may not always be enough time. 

How to Use the Attachments for Massage Guns?

The interchangeable massage gun tips or attachments that come with every percussion gun massager are available in several styles. Let us explain how to use the massage gun attachments if you're a little confused. 

Large ball

The massage gun attachment with the largest ball is the most popular. It is constructed of either a dense rubber or foam that has been hardened, depending on the manufacturer. This is the most versatile attachment overall, built to target both large and medium muscle groups including the glutes, hamstrings, and quads. 

Flat head

A fantastic multifunctional massage gun attachment is the flat head. This head is perfect for full-body massages and smaller muscle regions like the pecs, glutes, and legs. If you happen to run over bones while massaging, it won't hurt as bad because it doesn't have any sharp edges.

Bullet

The bullet is a fantastic option if you want to use your massage pistol to target certain trigger points or relieve shoulder tension. With this massage gun attachment, you can truly concentrate on a specific area of the body, such as the shoulders or other ligament attachment points. 

Fork head

The fork head's dual-pronged design makes it possible to target the spine and may be beneficial for treating lower back pain. You can gently massage the back of the neck by running the percussive therapy gun along it.

To do so, start off slow and on the lowest setting to assess your tolerance. It can also be applied to other areas, such as the Achilles tendon or the calf muscles. 

Should I Use Ice or Heat After Using a Massage Gun?

Tight muscles can be released by using a massage gun. Your muscles may become quite tender because of the extensive deep muscle therapy needed to release those trigger points and tension. Because of this, we recommend you stay away from heat for a short period of time after using a percussive therapy gun. Instead, start with some sort of cryotherapy. 

Essentially, ice is usually recommended for an acute injury, which is one that has happened within the past 24-48 hours. Ice not only lessens pain, but it also causes the blood vessels to contract. As a result, swelling will be kept to a minimum, and the time it takes for the new injury to heal will be shortened. 

The body's natural healing process causes inflammation, which helps in preventing further injury and speeds up recovery. 

To help relax and loosen the tissues and encourage blood flow to the affected area, heat should be used for more chronic illnesses. People who suffer from stiff joints and muscles often find that heat provides temporary palliative relief. 

However, you should proceed with caution because heat might aggravate the inflammation.

Percussion Massage Gun as a Post Workout Tool

Your muscles are definitely exhausted after a strenuous workout; you can speed up your recovery by using a massage gun immediately after exercising. Additionally, a massage gun is far simpler to use than a foam roller when applying pressure. 

However, remember that your muscles are already strained, stretched, and inflamed. Follow the two-minute guideline as closely as you can for each muscle group. The last thing you want to do is make the injury or soreness worse. You simply want to use it enough times to flush the lactic acid from your muscles. 

Get a Percussion Massage Gun Today!

The use of electrical massagers can be a beneficial and healthy addition to your exercise and recovery routine. When exerting any kind of force on your body, you should use caution. A massage gun should not be used on any wounds, bruises, or highly sensitive regions. 

If you're unsure whether a massage gun is good for you, talk to your doctor. You can also take a look at some of the best massage pillows on the market as an alternative.