Investing in a massage gun is a great way to get all the benefits of stress and tension relief without leaving the comfort of your home. Whether it’s to soothe your aching muscles after a long day at the office, or to recover from an intensive workout, there’s something for everyone. But with tons of options to choose from, what are the best massage guns on the market?
A recent study found that even a brief massage activates the stress-zapping parasympathetic nervous system. Research indicates that all you need is a 10-minute massage to activate the body’s regenerative, stress-fighting system. The study out of the University of Konstanz found that a group of participants displayed notable improvements in both psychological and physiological relaxation after just a 10-minute massage.
“To get a better handle on the negative effects of stress, we need to understand its opposite – relaxation,” said Jens Pruessner, head of the Neuropsychology lab and Professor at the Cluster of Excellence “Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behavior” at the University of Konstanz, in a release. “Relaxation therapies show great promise as a holistic way to treat stress, but more systematic scientific appraisal of these methods is needed.”
Massages are also a great tool for those in physical recovery. In experiments with mice, researchers from Harvard’s Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering and John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences found that mechanotherapy not only helps soothe muscles, it actually improves the healing process after severe injuries.
“Lots of people have been trying to study the beneficial effects of massage and other mechanotherapies on the body, but up to this point it hadn’t been done in a systematic, reproducible way,” explained Dr. Bo Ri Seo, first author of the study, in a university release. “Our work shows a very clear connection between mechanical stimulation and immune function. This has promise for regenerating a wide variety of tissues including bone, tendon, hair, and skin, and can also be used in patients with diseases that prevent the use of drug-based interventions.”
To help relieve those pains and aches, StudyFinds is here to help you find the best massage guns money can buy. For our findings, we visited 10 of the leading expert websites to see which massage guns were rated the highest. Our list is ranked based on the most-recommended massage guns across these sites.
The List: Best Massage Guns, According To The Experts
1. Hyperice Hypervolt 2
Several of Hyperice’s massage guns made the cut as top-recommended massage products, but the Hypervolt 2 is particularly well-rated for its three levels of pressure, easy bluetooth features, and quiet motor.
“The Hypervolt 2 offers speeds of up to 2,700 percussions per minute and three levels of pressure to help alleviate post-workout aches, soreness, and stiffness. Plus, it’s lighter than the original Hypervolt, has a longer battery life, and features a more streamlined design,” Healthline writes.
The model also features a rubber handle for easy use and deep tissue massage.
“This massage gun connects to the Hyperice app to feed you customized plans for consistent massage sessions,” Sports Illustrated writes. “You can’t miss a spot when you use the pressure sensor to see exactly what muscles are being targeted. Plus, it comes with five massage heads in unique shapes, so you can find the attachment that best fits warmups, muscle soreness, back pain and anything in between.”
2. Theragun Elite
Known for muscle relief post-workout and its five massage heads, the Theragun Elite is a top choice for those looking for a powerful and well-designed massage gun.
“It doesn’t come cheap, but if you’re willing to invest in some TLC for your tired muscles you’ll get a piece of kit that claims to reach 60% deeper into muscle tissue than average massagers, thanks to an unmatched 16mm amplitude. It also has a handy app that guides you through warm-up and post-workout massages, helping you stay at the top of your game,” writes Men’s Health.
Other features include an Ergonomic multi-grip design, two-hour battery life, and easy app access.
“One thing we loved about the Elite is that it can be held in various ways, allowing users to apply pressure more efficiently and comfortably. Our tester found this multi-grip design especially helpful when targeting hard-to-reach spots, like the lower back and hamstrings,” Tom’s Guide writes.
3. Hypervolt Go
Whether you’re headed to the gym or on a transcontinental flight, The Hypervolt Go is the perfect travel-sized companion to meet all your massage needs.
“It weighs less than 2 pounds, comes with three plug adapters for international outlets, and is TSA compliant for carry-on,” Very Well Fit writes. “The massager was very quiet and easy to use with a one-button control—earning the device a perfect score of 5 out of 5 for ease of use.”
Compact, lightweight, and with a sleek white design, the Hypervolt Go is a great on-the-go option.
“From an ergonomics standpoint, the Hypervolt Go 2 is fabulous—it is slightly slanted, making it easy to hold in your hand naturally, which helps cut down on wrist fatigue. The handle is also rubberized to provide a firmer grip,” Forbes writes.
4. Theragun Prime
Theragun tops the list again for its super intensive and high-end Prime massage gun.
“Those willing to pay top dollar for a powerful, well-designed massage gun with an upscale feel,” The New York Times writes. “Anyone who appreciates some guidance should like it, too: The device is Bluetooth enabled, allowing you to pair it with your phone and follow guided programs via the companion app.”
The Theragun Prime is also top-rated for its quiet motor and ergonomic handle.
“Considered the ‘Cadillac’ of percussive guns, the Theragun is a professional-grade recovery tool made for people who are serious about targeting specific muscle groups. We recently tested and reviewed this gun and found it to be the best percussive massager worth the splurge,” Forbes writes.
- Forbes
- Esquire
- Men’s Health
- Very Well Fit
- Tom’s Guide
- Healthline
- Forbes
- NBC News
- Medical News Today
- Sports Illustrated
Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations.
