Massage guns: miracle tool or just a trendy gadget?

You’ve probably seen someone using one — or maybe you’ve got one collecting dust in your closet.

Those high-powered massage guns that make your muscles bounce like Jell-O.

They look cool. They feel intense. But… do they actually do anything?

Let’s break it down.

Massage guns use a technique called percussive therapy — rapid, repetitive pulses of pressure applied to your muscles.

The idea is similar to deep tissue massage, but delivered in short bursts through vibration and mechanical force.

So what does the science say?
Here’s what we know so far:

✅ They help increase blood flow.
This promotes better circulation to stiff or sore muscles, which can help reduce tightness and improve short-term mobility.

✅ They stimulate your nervous system.
Percussive therapy interacts with the sensory nerves in your muscles, which can override pain signals (kind of like how rubbing your elbow after you bump it makes it feel better). This means they can offer temporary pain relief.

✅ They can reduce muscle soreness.
Some studies show massage guns may help lessen DOMS (delayed-onset muscle soreness) when used after intense workouts — especially in combination with light movement or stretching.

But here’s the catch…

❌ They don’t “break up” knots or scar tissue
❌ They don’t fix bad movement patterns or postural habits
❌ They won’t make weak muscles stronger

In other words: massage guns are a great recovery tool — not a cure-all.

They can help you loosen up before a workout, calm things down afterward, or relieve tension in areas that feel tight.

But they’re not a substitute for proper movement, training, or mobility work.

I have a Thera massage gun (not sponsored) and I love it. I’ve had cheap ones in the past before but the difference in quality is night and day

Best times to use it:

• Before workouts to increase blood flow

• After workouts to reduce soreness

• On recovery days to improve circulation

If you treat it like a support tool — not a magic fix — it can absolutely be a helpful part of your routine.

Your movement is still the main medicine.

But a massage gun? It’s a solid sidekick

— FitZip

P.S. — if you want to try my Reset Your Body ebook to build a stable body that’s designed for longevity and avoid body pain, I’ll leave the link for that right here 👇
https://stan.store/FitZip/p/reset-your-body-