5 Things You Need to Know About Massage Guns

At Archon Fitness, our team of health and wellness professionals believes in the therapeutic power of the massage gun. Not only do massage guns work, but they are practical and convenient, too.  

Massage guns work. 

In short, massage guns work by using intense bursts of force to promote blood flow to the area in which you’re concentrating. 

If you’ve seen a massage gun, you likely have a general idea of how it works. Similar to a jackhammer, the vibrating end of the massage gun uses a deep vibration to stimulate the muscle. When they’re used appropriately, massage guns are incredibly effective at relieving areas of the body where people often carry stress, like the neck, shoulders, and lower back. 

Most fitness enthusiasts use the massage gun right before workouts or right after. Targeting a muscle group for six to ten minutes warms up the specific muscle group, prepping the tissue and making injury less likely. 

After exercise, your muscles hold on to lactic acid. The massage gun helps reduce or delay muscle soreness by decreasing the ability of the muscle fibers to hold on to lactic acid.  

A little goes a long way. 

You may think it just makes good common sense that if the massage gun feels good after using it for a little while, it will feel even better if you use it a lot. Don’t use that mentality when using a massage gun. 

Avoid painful areas. Use caution over bones and joints. Don’t use a massage gun on sprains or strains, bruises, or open wounds. While it may seem obvious, don’t use the massage gun over any area with impaired sensation. If you have a musculoskeletal condition like fibromyalgia, osteoporosis, or arthritis, don’t use the massage gun without talking first to your doctor. 

Most recommend using the massage gun for only between two and three minutes on each muscle group.

Effects of massage guns 

Before Workouts 

A quick session with a massage gun can help you warm up by increasing the blood flow directly to the areas you intend to target during your workout. 

Spend a minute or two massaging the muscle group directly, and then try 30 seconds on supporting muscle groups. 

However, we aren’t suggesting that using a massage gun eliminates the need for other essential warmups like dynamic stretching or light cardio. 

After Workouts

Use the massage gun as part of your cool-down post-workout. Percussive therapy can help bring your body into a resting state. The massage gun will relax your nervous system by masking pain signals, like a TENS unit. 

After a workout, using a massage gun will help reduce post-workout soreness and reduce inflammation in your muscles. 

It happens to all of us – enjoy a new workout and two days later experience exceptionally sore muscles. This is a common phenomenon called delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS), and massage guns can help provide temporary relief of this soreness. 

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Convenience is key. 

We wouldn’t begin to say that a massage gun is a substitute for a massage therapist. However, if you’re in a pinch, the massage gun can provide relief. Since it’s small enough to fit in your gym bag, the massage gun is portable, and most are lightweight. 

A top-quality massage gun, like the Archon Fitness massage gun, provides a long-lasting battery life of six to eight hours. You don’t have to fret about recharging or finding an extension cord – at least not while you’re at the gym.  

Weighing in at only 2.2 pounds, the Archon Fitness massage gun is light enough that you can use it with ease. With multiple head attachments, several speeds, and four gears of adjustment, the Archon Fitness massage gun is convenient and – more importantly – effective.  

How to Effectively Use a Massage Gun

There are right and wrong ways to use a massage gun. If you’re looking for practical use, these tips should help. Don’t forget, our team of professionals at Archon Fitness is available to help you with more targeted massage tips for your specific pain. 

Neck

The neck is one of the more sensitive areas of your body. It’s critical that instead of using the massage gun directly on the neck, you pinpoint the muscle ball that’s causing you the most discomfort. Hold the massage gun on the tight spot for approximately ten seconds, moving your neck up and down, right and left. Don’t spend more than about two minutes massaging the muscle group around your neck. 

Shoulders 

It’s important to target as many muscle groups as you can around your shoulders to try and relieve any pain or tightness. You can reach the group of shoulder muscles by clasping the massage gun with the opposite hand and get into the back of your shoulder muscles across the blade. 

Be sure to use the massage gun on the deltoid muscle and use light pressure under the armpit area. 

Back 

Whether due to a workout or bad posture at the office, it’s not uncommon to experience tight muscle groups in the lower back. Place the gun on your lower back. Hold it on a tight spot and try to add some side-to-side movement. Don’t forget to use the tool on your glutes to release tightness. 

Inner Thigh 

The often-neglected inner thigh muscles can be the source of the pain you’re experiencing in your groin or knees. It’s important to massage your inner thigh muscles regularly to avoid additional tightness. Assume a figure 4 position and place the massage gun on the inside of your hip. Gently massage from the pubic bone to above the knee. You can accomplish this standing or seated. 

Calves 

Our poor calves do a lot of work. You may be experiencing nighttime calf cramps when they get too tight. Release this muscle tightening by sitting down and crossing your ankle over the opposite knee. In this position, you’re safe from straining your back from trying to bend over to reach them. Flex your toes up and down while running the gun lightly over the calf muscle.   

Reach out to us if you need more specific information on how to use your massage gun effectively. 

The Archon Difference 

Archon is way more than an online retailer for workout equipment. We are a fitness company staffed by a team of passionate professionals dedicated to healthier bodies and healthy minds. 

We provide a wide selection of only the highest-quality equipment and offer free shipping on almost all items. When you purchase a piece of workout equipment from us, our relationship is just beginning. Ideally, we start a dialogue. 

We want you to know how to effectively and safely use the equipment so you see the results you’re expecting. Communicate with one of our trainers about the equipment you’ve purchased, and let us design a workout for you that will help you meet your fitness goals. 

We are here for you. We want you to succeed. Whether you’re just beginning your journey toward fitness or you are well on your way to healthier living, you are important to us. Check out our website and start your relationship with Archon – TODAY.