The motor is quieter than anticipated, despite its heavy-duty design—a bonus for those in communal living spaces. Plus, detailed instructions are included with the device, which helped our tester figure out the massage gun's controls. It’s important to note that this massage gun only comes with one massage head. But it is lightweight and easily portable, making it a great choice for frequent travelers or on-the-go runners. For beginners or those on a budget, Recoverfun’s Mini Massage Gun is a great option—it’s easy to use, conveniently compact, and super budget-friendly. But most importantly, the device delivers real results. “At the end of the day, the product is only good if you're going to use it, and I really enjoyed using this massage gun,” she said. “I reach for it after workouts, especially the day after when the delayed onset muscle soreness sets in,” she said.

Massage guns that provided rapid relief and decreased muscle soreness scored high on our list, along with products that were easy to use, ergonomic, versatile, and quiet. Those that didn’t make our list were bulky, noisy, inefficient, and provided little control—these massage guns missed the mark on one or more key attributes. Also helpful for beginners, the massage gun includes an instruction booklet with how-to guides and graphics. “I like that it came with a carrying case,” our tester said. “The massage guns I already own don't come with a case, so having one makes for easy transport.” Our tester noticed a huge difference in muscle tension and was surprised by how powerful yet smooth and sturdy the device was. “It’s thoroughly enjoyable and really does feel like a deep tissue massage,” our tester said. “And because it was an enjoyable experience, I was likely to use it more frequently.” You must exercise caution when using these devices,” says Dreon. They should not be used on the spine, bones, joints, abdomen, and face, he adds. As for cheaper massage guns, these tend to have harder attachment heads (which make for a slightly less comfortable experience), a shorter battery life, or are less durable. If there's a choice between a cheap muscle gun and a more expensive massage gun that's on sale, we'd always suggest going with the one that looks like it will last the longest and is the most specced out. If it comes with a warranty, even better. Do massage guns work?

While training for a half marathon, our tester used (and greatly appreciated) the Theragun Mini Massager. “I felt noticeable relief of tension and tightness after use,” she said. “I am training for a half marathon and have had especially tight hips and hip flexors—the Theragun Mini has helped.”

Massage guns are handheld devices that use rapid percussive therapy to increase blood flow and improve circulation, loosening up tight underlying soft tissues and helping to reduce perceptions of pain or soreness. Just about everyone can benefit from the precise, restorative massage that these devices provide, says Dr. Karena Wu, PT, DPT, OCS. Transparency is really important to us and that's why we're always upfront about where we find our recommendations. We write about products that we feel offer the best value to most parents – the ones that our users would recommend to their own friends and family. Both strenuous exercise and hours of sittingcan cause muscle tightness, soreness, and sometimes even pain. These symptoms may be a result of low oxygen levels and built-up lactic acid in the muscles, Wu says. In other words, myofascial trigger points are the pesky, marble-like knots that you feel just under your skin. And massage guns can help to relieve this discomfort, pain, and limited mobility. The only component our tester found inconvenient was the massage gun’s shutdown process. There’s one button on the device: You press it once to turn on and four more times to get to the maximum speed level. But instead of pressing the button once more to shut it off, you have to hold it down for a few seconds—which our tester found frustrating.We also spoke to three experts to discuss what to look for when selecting a message gun. Experts we spoke to included: Invest in one of the best massage guns out there and you can use it before exercise to activate your muscles and increase blood flow, or post-workout to release tension and ward off DOMS. It will help you recover faster, boost your circulation, increase flexibility and extend your range of motion. Phew! You can also use it to soothe WFH-related niggles, or for a spot of relaxation after a stressful day – trust us, it feels pretty darn good. Each massage gun was judged on overall effectiveness, as well as how well they could glide over muscles, how easy they were to control, the practicality of their design, and their strength. Bonus points were also on offer for any innovative features or smart additions like carry cases. Bill Peters, DPT, Doctor of Physical Therapy and founder of Pro Sports Performance Physical Therapy in Garden City, NY

A regular massage is typically administered by a certified massage therapist. You can book the experience both at home or in-studio, but it tends to be costly. During a regular massage, therapists use their hands, fingers, and thumbs to glide, knead, and stretch—usually treating the whole body.

Use in a similar way to a foam roller; either before exercise to activate muscles and increase blood flow, or after to release tension and prevent DOMS. Or, simply when you feel your shoulders creeping up towards your ears and tension setting in. Some massage guns come with additional attachments—such as flat, round, and bullet massage heads—that target specific areas and concerns. If simplicity is important to you, choosing a device with just one massage head might be a good idea—the Theragun Mini Massager is a great option. But if you’re looking for a more complex and versatile massage gun, the TOLOCO Massage Gun has 15 unique head attachments, including an arrow head for deep tissue relief and an elbow head for palm and sole massage. Battery Life Theragun claim that their unique Percussive Therapy is able to reach tissue at 16mm depth - deeper than most other massage guns. The Theragun Prime certainly looks the part with its ergonomic handle, four foam-ended attachments, LED display, QuietForce brushless motor, five speeds and a travel pouch. There’s even a Therabody app and bluetooth connectivity so you can customise your massage. The battery life is relatively short at two hours though. Pros The muscle guns below, marked with our Women’s Health Lab Approved logo, have been put to the test in our lab. Our expert tester has trialled them over a three-week period, using them around their hectic exercise schedule — made up of weightlifting, running, HIIT, yoga and more — to see how well each one helped muscles to recover. Also known as percussive massagers, massage guns may look a bit menacing, but they have only good intentions. By providing short bursts of pressure into your muscle tissue, they increase blood flow to the targeted area, helping to ease all sorts of aches and pains.

Professional Deep Tissue Massage Gun: ANSEGC professional electric handheld massage gun uses percussion therapy to relieve muscle soreness and accelerate recovery, which efficiently helps relax your stiff muscles, breakdown knots, boost blood flow or prevent DOMS, to increase your flexibility, extend your range of motion. Gives your professional relaxing massage experience, Anytime, Anywhere. One downside—the Recoverfun massage gun doesn’t come with a carrying case for the device itself or the attachments. But it is rather small and effortlessly lightweight, so this slight inconvenience doesn’t decrease overall value, according to our tester. Offering three speeds, there are four power modes up to 3600 pulses per minute. The five different head attachments should suit all your needs although it’s worth noting that they’re made from hard plastic rather than the more forgiving rubber heads you’d find on more expensive models. Cordless and rechargeable, the fully charged battery lasts 140 minutes. Pros This massage gun has five quality head attachments - ball, bullet, fork, air cushion and flat - which should cover all your recovery needs. Choose between five speeds - the brushless motor can switch between 1800 to 3200rpm/minute while remaining surprisingly quiet.

Sonic LX Quiet Pro Percussion Massage Gun: While our tester was impressed by this massage gun's intensity, they found it to be too harsh for use above the hips. Lisa Mitro, PT, DPT, FMSC, is a physical therapist specializing in orthopedic solutions for those who are looking to improve their fitness. She has a doctorate in physical therapy from Shenandoah University. What to Look for in a Massage Gun Frequency In recent times, a fair few Mumsnetters have been asking for advice on how to ease muscle pain after exercise and there seems to be one overriding answer: personal massage guns. As one satisfied Mumsnetter, ShirleyPhallus, reports: “I have a massage gun and it’s absolutely amazing. Gets rid of the DOMS pretty much right away.” Super Quiet and Portable Design: Adopt powerful 24V brushless high-torque motor and noise reduction technology, ANSGEC massage gun runs very quietly below 40DB. You can use this powerful but ear-friendly massager at home, gym, office without disturb others. The ergonomic single-hand grip with rubber non-slip coating, minimizes external vibrations, no wobble at the handle. This deep tissue massage gun is portable and handy, even for the elderly. Organized case for easy carry and store;