are massage guns worth it

Are Massage Guns Worth It? Both Price + Therapeutic Value

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Suppose your subconscious mind is constantly bombarded with the benefits of massage guns. In that case, You might ask, “Are massage guns worth it?”

Well, there are two aspects you need to consider: therapeutic interest and price. Here’s a summary of both that provides an answer:

Massage guns operate based on percussion, and their vibrational effect stimulates the release of painkiller chemicals like endorphins. The results of these substances vary depending on the pain level and the individual’s body nature. However, in the majority of cases, people experience relief.

The price is a more debatable aspect and is entirely influenced by personal preferences.

But things are not that simple. Several factors will determine the answer to ‘Are massage guns worth it?’ We’ll break down each aspect step by step and help you come to a conclusion.

Let’s start by discussing the price since many people are interested in this. Then, we will move on to discussing the therapeutic worth.

hypervolt go and ekrin bantam mini massage gun


Are Massage Guns Worth the Price?

You might come across people comparing percussion massagers with a Jigsaw and arguing that “Massage guns are expensive JigSaws.”

As Dale Carnegie said, “You can’t win an argument.” But still, you can find what the truth is! If you look at expensive yet popular percussion massagers like ‘Theragun,’ they will cost a lot. But after using, you realize that they are charging for something good.

Although you might consider $400-$600 a very high price for a massage gun, most manufacturers charge for the brand.

Contrary to Theragun, there are many affordable choices. Such massagers offer both good vibrational therapy and a reasonable price. Purchasing a mid-price massage gun will be worth every penny. But don’t prey for inexpensive massagers compromising every feature you will need a good massage gun.

If you’re spending money on a massage gun, we can only say, “It will be worth purchasing.” You will know more about the benefits as we discuss things further.

theragun pro percussion range 1750 2400rpm
Theragun Pro massage gun head in action, delivering percussive therapy.

Important: Price is a Personal Preference

With personal preference of price, we mean, “the type of usage in correlation to the price.” Percussion massagers will be worth the money for those who do intense training. Also, people suffering from pain and inflammations will understand the value more. 

Unfortunately, if you’re a hobbyist, we don’t recommend you spending that much money. It is likely possible that a hobbyist will not get high benefits from a massage gun. Eventually, he or she will consider it a wrong choice. 

If you are looking for a percussion massager for recreation, we recommend considering inexpensive choices that fulfill basic needs.  

The price talk is only for beginners. Conscious people have more therapeutic worth than money.


Massage Guns Therapeutic Worth

In the video below, Dr. Micheal Clarke, CEO of NASM, brilliantly explained the mechanical and neuro-physiological effect of vibrational therapy. It is now supported by research, the beneficial impact of vibrational therapy on muscle soreness.

Also, other researches show short term effects of vibrational therapy. Believing on the available evidence, many gym trainers who want quick results purchase these percussion massagers. 

But, we can’t consider the amount of research good enough to conclude any obvious results. Although trials are going regarding percussion therapy, it will take a lot of time to make final assumptions.

On the other hand, if we ask “Massage Gun Buyers” regarding the therapeutic worth, most of them will give positive remarks. After listening to almost 40 massage gun customers and reading all the research sources we could find percussion massagers, our modest opinion is:

Massage guns provide good and immediate relief from pain. They not only energize your muscles but also enhance your performance. But all of these are either people’s experiences or opinions.

There is no solid scientific study that could determine its therapeutic worth. Hence, if you consider it a massage gadget rather than a therapy machine, it will prove worthy.


Possible Mechanism of Massage Guns for Providing Relief Against Pain

Neuroscientists consider pain, a mixture of highly complex phenomena. A massage gun can relieve pain by two possible mechanisms.

The first one is by stimulation of Golgi tendon organs. The stimulation of these GTOs by strong percussive force causes the muscle to be relaxed.

Second, and probably a better mechanism, is by the neurophysiological process of electrical stimulation. These electrical stimulations through the “Gating theory” and “Analgesia system” stop pain transmission and release various chemicals that help relieve pain.

Besides these two mechanisms, many chiropractors and physiotherapists believe that percussion decreases the amount of lactic acid in your muscles. This is one of the key reasons, massage gun usage after an intense workout feels very relaxing.

ekrin bantam woman back massager
Using a mini massage gun to relieve back muscle soreness and pain.

Question: Should you Follow the Trend?

Whether you believe or not, having a massage gun is becoming a trend. It all started when people saw many fitness trainers and even NBA stars using the percussion massagers. Now, even the unpopular massage guns will have thousands of customers.

Now, coming to the question, “Should you get one and follow the trend?” The answer purely depends upon your usage. As narrated earlier, for people suffering from pain or doing intense workouts and running, it can be a suitable choice.

You could also get an answer from Dr. Jason [Owner of Theragun and creator of first massage gun] who shares his story in a video, How he made a percussive massager to tackle his problem.

So, the moral of the whole discussion is:
“Instead of following the trends, look for your needs, and if you fall into the categories mentioned above, go grab a good one.”

ekrin b37s review by Greg
Ekrin B37s is powerful, quiet, lightweight, and ergonomically designed.

Why are Massage Guns so Expensive?

In case you don’t know, a good massage gun has an average cost of around 250-300$. But why are they so expensive?

The massage gun uses brushless motors. Most companies focus on motors that are both quite as well as powerful. Such types of motors cost a lot. Secondly, excellent manufacturing and using long-lasting batteries also hold a high price.

Providing additional features like heating options, attachments, and pressure sensing technologies contribute to the price. Somehow, brand names also inflate the price. The last and most important thing is testing and compatibility with the human body.

All of these factors, more or less responsible for the high price of a massage gun.


Future Possibilities Regarding the Price of Massage Guns

Many people believe that as massage guns start getting popular, there will be a decline in the price. To some extent, this concept is real. 

Although there are good percussion massagers available even under $100, we still don’t believe that there will be a considerable price decline. However, there is a possibility that the new types of percussion massagers might come that are inexpensive.


Conclusion

We have answered, “Are massage guns worth it?” by stating these things:

  • Worth Depends on price and therapy.
  • A massage gun is definitely worth the price.
  • Not enough research is made to conclude any decision regarding therapeutic value.
  • Percussion massagers are not ultimate therapy machines, but they can help you.

We tried to keep things simple and understandable. If you made your mind to purchase a massage gun, we have many suitable options for you. 

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Post Update History

Here's a quick rundown of all the tweaks and edits we've made to this article to keep it accurate and up-to-date!

Current version last updated on:

May 22, 2023 Editorial update: Revised content for improved clarity and readability. (Author: Greg)

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Written by:

luke massagegunadvice

Luke Deszczulka

luke massagegunadvice
Luke Deszczulka

Luke, a Biomedical Engineer with a passion for sports, is our lead reviewer for massage guns and wellness tech products. Alongside a dedicated Experts Board, he ensures each review is the result of thorough testing, in-depth research, and rigorous fact-checking, providing our readers with reliable and comprehensive insights.

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