Author, Expert Board Member
Bio:
Alex Stone is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and a certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (NSCA). He currently practices orthopedics in Bellevue, Washington, and manages an online health coaching business via social media (@dr.alexstone). He is passionate about health science education and general health/wellness optimization.
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ByGreg Szostak
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Plantar fasciitis can literally be a pain in the foot – no pun intended. Whether your therapist or doctor has diagnosed you with this condition, or you just happen to know the symptoms for it, you’ll need something to keep the pain away.
Luckily, massage guns are one of the easiest and perhaps the cheapest ways to manage your plantar fasciitis pain. You need to pick the right one. That is where we come in. We understand how tough it can be to pick the best massage gun for plantar fasciitis. Some are too expensive (up to $599), while some are cheap and ineffective.
We have tested dozens of massage guns, both cheap and expensive, and we know what to look for in one. This post will guide you through the process of choosing the perfect massage gun to manage your plantar fasciitis. We’ll also offer some tips on how to use a massage gun to treat your plantar fasciitis safely and effectively.
Key Takeaways:
Please read on to discover why we selected these two models, explore our other recommendations, and learn what really matters when choosing a device for massaging plantar fasciitis.
Before we proceed, we have to say that this article does not give medical advice. We are not Physiotherapists, and we certainly don’t hold any degrees in medicine.
However, we have plenty of knowledge about massage guns. This article reflects our genuine experiences and insights as consumers. Over the years, we’ve personally tested numerous massage guns.
However, before we publish our articles, we consult with our experts (in this case, Dr. Alex Stone, DPT) to ensure that we are providing trustworthy, accurate information.
Lastly, we don’t recommend a single product so that it sounds like some kind of internet marketing campaign. We give alternatives and explain our reasoning behind them so you can make an educated buying decision.
When we first felt the effects of plantar fasciitis on our soles, we knew we needed a solution. There are several ways to treat and manage this condition1.
Massage therapy is one way to manage it2,3 – this can be effectively done using a massage gun.
From our trials, we’ve pinpointed certain features of a massage gun that are crucial to keep in mind if you want to get the right sports massager for massaging plantar fasciitis. This will help to manage pain in arch when walking:
Stroke length, also known as amplitude, refers to the distance traveled by the massage gun head during a percussion.
This distance is important in determining what kind of massage a particular sports massager can provide. A massage gun with a high amplitude is suitable for the best deep tissue massage, which is most likely effective for massaging plantar fasciitis.
A massage gun with a 15-16mm amplitude punches the hardest and is perfect for the best deep tissue massage, while one with a 6-9mm amplitude doesn’t punch as hard and can only deliver surface-level massage—vibrational therapy.
We often get asked if a high amplitude massage gun is essential for massaging plantar fasciitis.
Well, for a mere foot massage, you don’t need a hard massager.
But here’s the thing: To treat plantar fasciitis, experts recommend not focusing solely on the bottom of your feet.
Before heading straight to the foot, other areas of your leg should be massaged first. These include the hip or glute area, the tensor fasciitis, calves, shins, and the sides of your ankles – these are key muscles that need to be warmed up and relaxed before you move on to the bottom of your foot.
As it turns out, some of these areas have large muscles that need a hard massager to get them ready. That is why we recommend a massage gun with enough amplitude. Not necessarily 15-16mm (unless you are a bodybuilder and have huge muscles), but something mid-range.
In our definition, midrange amplitude should be about 10-13mm. This is not too aggressive but also not too vibrational.
So, stall force refers to the pressure needed to stall the motor of a massage gun. The more pressure a sports massager can withstand, the more effective it can be during a massage.
There is more information in our glossary.
Here, devices with 30 lbs. or less are considered entry-level. Mid-level devices should withstand 35-50 lbs. of pressure, while hard massagers have more than 50 lbs. of stall force – these don’t stall easily.
Stall force is an essential consideration because, most of the time, it goes hand in glove with the amplitude. While you don’t necessarily need a lot of stall force to massage your feet – it’s mostly just passing the massage gun head over the muscle and letting it do the work, maybe a few gentle presses here and there for trigger point massage – you still require a strong massage gun to tackle large muscle areas like your quads, glutes, and hamstring. You’ll require considerable pressure for the best deep tissue massage in these areas.
We suggest settling for a sweet spot and picking a universal massage gun—not too weak, but not too strong, either. We’ll throw in a number and say go for a sports massager that promises a real 35-50 lbs. of stall force (Alert: some manufacturers may advertise their product with an incredible stall force, but the reality might be different; that’s why we test them and share with you our findings).
Don’t forget that it should be paired with just enough amplitude. With this kind of massage gun, you get plantar fasciitis physical therapy and the best body massagers when needed.
Apart from amplitude and stall force, here are a few other aspects that you should look out for when selecting a plantar fasciitis massage gun:
4.8
From our hands-on experience, the Ekrin B37 stands out as one of the most versatile massage guns available.
Ekrin launched their company with this gun, and so far, it’s been a great muscle massager. It has so much going for it; best of all, it has all the proper aspects for a plantar fasciitis massage gun.
First, we invite you to watch our video to see our initial impressions and tests of this device. Observe its quality and power.
As you can see, it has an angled handle, which improves its ergonomics. This reduces stress and fatigue on the wrist during percussive therapy.
But this massage gun’s best characteristic comes where it really matters—performance! It has a 12mm amplitude, which is just perfect for relieving foot pain. It doesn’t hit too hard, and it’s not vibrational either—exactly as you need it to be.
Remember how we said that you need a bit of pressure on the quads and hamstrings? Well, this percussion massager has up to 56 lbs. of stall force, which is enough to apply pressure to those large muscles.
The Ekrin B37 has a percussion range of 1400-3200 RPM across 5 speeds. We love that range because it allows you to start really slowly before cranking up the intensity when you need it.
It comes with 4 attachments, including the most effective heads for a good foot massage.
The build is great, and quality materials are used. It feels premium in the hand. It gives you a quiet massage and comes with a more than decent battery that lasts up to 8 hours on a single charge.
If you love brands that care about you, you’ll love Ekrin, which offers a lifetime warranty for all its products.
Overall, we believe this is the perfect massage gun to treat your plantar fasciitis. If you want more power, check out their B37S model – it has 30% more stall force for each speed, a pressure sensor, and an extra attachment.
B73 usually costs $229.99, but if you use the MGA20 coupon in Ekrin’s store, you can get it for only $183.99. Grab the discount here!
Read More: Read our hands-on Ekrin B37 review for more details.
Our review score:
4.7
For those like us who want nothing but the best, the Achedaway Pro is a top contender. If you would rather go for the biggest and “baddest” device available, then this one is for you.
The Bob and Brad D6 Pro doesn’t play around. It has everything switched to ultimate—especially when it comes to performance, which is what really matters if you want the pain in your foot to go away.
Now that you’ve heard us talk about stall force and amplitude in this article. Well, here’s a massage gun with a high amplitude and a lot of stall force. Is it good? That depends on what your needs are. Athletes will love this sports massager.
Athletes want a massage gun that can dig deep into their well-developed muscles, and this hard massager will do just that. With its 16mm amplitude, it can punch harder than most massage guns.
We are used to Theragun when it comes to 16mm amplitude, and the Bob and Brad D6 Pro is something of that caliber.
Speaking of Theragun caliber, the D6 Pro is advertised to deliver up to 85 lbs. stall force (it feels closer to 60 lbs., though). Therefore, this is the Theragun Pro-like—the best in the business. It has a percussion range of 1460 – 2460 RPM (advertised: 1500 – 2500 RPM)—better than Theragun—and enough hits per minute for a foot massage and for relaxing the tensor fasciitis.
It has a 2500mAh battery, which gives you 2-3 hours per charge. The Ekrin B37 will give you more time on the battery than the 2-4 hours that you can get here.
It’s a bit louder than the Ekrin B37 above (67 db vs 61) but the quietest among guns with high stroke lengths. It’s also as heavy as the Theragun Pro 5th Gen—2.18 lbs—but given the power, it’s understandable.
It comes with a one-year warranty, but our readers can extend it to an additional year when they register the device. It’s not as good as Ekrin, but it’s better than most brands, including Theragun Elite and Hypervolt.
It costs $249.99, but with our link and the MGAD6PRO2 code, you can save $60! Follow this link and click the yellow button to visit their Amazon store!
Having tried the famed Theraguns, we can vouch for their reputation. They started with the whole percussion massager charade and now produce high-quality devices.
The current Theragun generation, except the Theragun mini (in a separate category), all have 16mm amplitude. It’s the stall force that differs across the board.
Many ask us, out of all the Theraguns we’ve tried (here is a post on that), which one truly stands out for treating plantar fasciitis?
Watching the video of Dr. Jason Wersland (Theragun’s founder) using the Theragun Pro to explain how to treat plantar fasciitis may make you think you need the top model, but is that actually the case?
However, we don’t believe you need the ultra-expensive Theragun Pro to massage your legs and feet if you want to reduce the use of splints for plantar fasciitis.
Which Theragun to buy? – Our Recommendation:
In our opinion, the entry-level Theragun Prime (to be found here at therabody.com) is enough for the average user. It has 30 lbs. of stall force to go with the long stroke length (16mm amplitude massage gun)
That isn’t much power but it’s more than enough for a fascia massager with enough push for areas that need it.
But if you are an amateur athlete and want to buy a Theragun, we recommend stepping up and getting the Elite model. It has better specs than the Prime and offers the best value for money among all the 4th-gen devices. To top it all off, it has 40 lbs. of stall force. That falls within our recommended range and then some. It’s also quieter than both Prime and Pro.
Theragun Cons
It’s important to highlight that the Theragun Mini (reviewed here) can address flat feet and plantar fasciitis despite being the smallest and least powerful of the Theraguns.
If you’re on a budget like we were at one point, the Active + Massage Gun offers great value.
The Active + is a simple device – typical T-shape design – but it has everything you need to alleviate the pain from plantar fasciitis.
For starters, it has a 10mm amplitude, which is enough to complete the job well.
It’s not as powerful as any of the two sports massagers we just reviewed, but 25 lbs. of stall force (advertised with 55 lbs. stall force) might be enough for some people for a full-body massage (unless you’re a bodybuilder or a pro athlete).
You’ll still be able to press the gun against the skin, and it should be able to withstand some decent pressure without hitting hard on sore or sensitive areas of your leg (let’s call it a comfortable Renpho leg massage). With continued use, it may reduce the need for night splints.
Don’t expect it to hit as deep as either of the above massage guns, but you can expect 1300 to 3200 PPM (we measured 1800-300 percussions per minute). These are enough percussions to get a good relaxing massage. It has 5 speeds to manage the percussions.
It comes with 5 great quality attachments that are nicely varied to give you as many options as you require. It weighs just 2.5lbs, which is light enough if you need to use it for longer sessions.
The battery is decent as well, 2500mAh, and you can expect it to run for 3-4 hours before you need to charge it again. It comes with a USB-C cable for easy charging.
The device is backed by a 1-year warranty, and you have 30 days to return the device for any reason.
It currently costs $109.99, but save yourself $20 and get it for $89.99 with our exclusive link: Get it at opove.com here.
Hyperice Hypervolt is another household name regarding massage guns – head to head with Therabody and their Theraguns.
A common question we are asked is whether the Hypervolt truly delivers for plantar fasciitis. The answer is yes.
But which one?
We recommend either the regular gray Hypervolt 2 or the enhanced Hypervolt 2 Pro version. You may want to skip the Hypervolt Go 2, as it is likely too weak for deep tissue massage on leg muscles, as discussed in this Hypervolt Comparison.
Is there a difference between the two available choices?
Well, there is, and it’s quite clear. Hypervolt 2 has a decent 12mm stroke length (we verified it) but a very low stall force of only about 20-25 lbs. It is very light, though, and easy to maneuver (only 1.8 lbs)
The Hypervolt 2 Pro, on the other hand, has a respectable 14mm amplitude (we had to measure it because Hyperice doesn’t say what it is) and an estimated 30-35 lbs. of stall force, which makes it adequate for proper percussive therapy.
If you’re looking to treat plantar fasciitis by massaging your feet, shins, and calves, the gray Hypervolt is an acceptable choice. It won’t be good enough for deep tissue—especially for large muscles—but it will get the job done easily.
However, if you want a serious Hypervolt, we suggest the more expensive 2 Pro model. The price difference is about $80, but you get a more versatile percussive device and plenty of power to dig into large leg muscles or glute muscle pain.
The good news is that Hyperice recently reduced the prices of their devices again. The regular Hypervolt 2 was $299, but now it’s down to $199, while the Hypervolt 2 Pro is down to $329. Both devices come with only a 1-year warranty, and neither includes a carrying case.
TIP: The official Hypervolt store now accepts HSA/FSA cards, allowing you to purchase Hypervolts as a medical device. We also have a post on FSA/HSA percussive massagers here, so we suggest reading it too.
4.6
If you’re on a budget like we were at one point, the Opove M3 Pro 2 offers great value.**The Opove M3 Pro 2 is a simple device – typical T-shape design – but it has everything you need to alleviate the pain from plantar fasciitis.**For starters, it has a 12mm amplitude, which is more than enough to get the job done well.**It’s not as powerful as any of the two sports massagers we just reviewed, but 40 lbs. of stall force is more than enough for a full-body massage (unless you’re a bodybuilder or a pro athlete).**We guess 80% of people will find this amount of power adequate. You’ll still be able to press the gun against the skin, and it should be able to withstand some decent pressure. With continued use, it may reduce the use of night splints.**Don’t expect it to hit as deep as either of the above guns but you can expect 1300 to 2600 hits per minute. This is enough percussions to get a good, intensive massage in. It has 5 speeds to manage the percussions.**It comes with 5 great quality attachments that are nicely varied to give you as many options as you require. It weighs just 2.5lbs, which is light enough if you need to use it for longer sessions.
The battery is decent as well, 2600mAh, and you can expect it to run for 3-4 hours before you need to charge it again.**The device is backed by a 1-year warranty, and you have 30 days to return the device for any reason.
It currently costs $119.99, which is 40% OFF the regular price ($199). Get it at opove.com here.
Now that we’ve explored the various devices, it’s clear that massage guns can significantly help alleviate the discomfort associated with plantar fasciitis. Through testing each of the discussed devices, we’ve discovered that obtaining relief doesn’t necessarily require the most powerful massage gun on the market.
So, let’s recap our top recommended massagers for plantar fasciitis and tensor fasciitis:
Please let us know in the comments below what you ended up choosing and if you’re pleased with it.
Take care!
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.
December 12, 2024: Implemented small text corrections for better readability, alongside changes to internal linking and some grammar and spelling checks. (By: Mario)
January 17, 2024: New, refreshed introduction text plus better internal linking. (By: Greg)
October 7, 2023: More updates: revisited intro section, updated information about the possibility of purchasing using HSA/FSA cards. Hypervolt price update. (By: Greg)
October 4, 2023: Fact-checked and reviewed for accuracy. (By Dr. Alex Stone, DPT)
Published on:
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Written by:
Greg Szostak
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