Author, Expert Board Member
Bio:
Alex Stone is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and 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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ByLuke Deszczulka
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In this post we’ll find out what is the best massage gun for sciatica. This is a follow-up post to the one on how massage guns can be good for sciatica – so if you need more background information, pause here and read it.
For now, two key facts are important:
With that in mind, this article and we are here to help you select the right massage gun to treat your sciatica. We’ll discuss what you need to consider when choosing one and explain why. Follow along!
In a hurry? If you’re short on time and trust our experience, we’d directly recommend these standout devices:
We discuss both of these devices down below, read on to find out more.
This post is penned from our genuine consumer experiences. We’ve dedicated countless hours to testing massage guns, though we’re not medical professionals.
However, every post we write is backed by our hands-on experience and research. We consult our experts (licensed physiotherapists and chiropractors) to ensure we’re giving trustworthy advice. This post has been medically reviewed for accuracy.
Lastly, we don’t market any particular device, but we provide alternatives and explain the differences between devices. That way, you can make an educated choice without feeling coerced.
From our testing, we’ve realized the importance of two key features in a massage gun for sciatica relief – stroke length and stall force. Get these right, and you have the best chance at improving your feeling better, faster.
Stroke length is sometimes also referred to as amplitude in massage gun language. It’s the distance traveled by the massage gun head during percussions – the back and forth motion as the device vibrates.
How is this distance related to massaging the sciatica pain away? Well, as we have already explained, massage therapy can help ease tension in muscles that press the sciatic nerve. Massage guns can provide the deep tissue massage needed to loosen tense muscles, release trigger points, improve blood flow, and dispel lactic acid.
Deep tissue massage happens when percussions hit deep enough into the muscle tissues to do everything we just mentioned.
From our hands-on tests, we noticed that not all massage guns penetrate deep enough. A massage gun that can’t hit deep enough often has a low amplitude, while a deep-hitting massage gun has a high amplitude.
We found that low amplitude massage guns primarily offer vibrational therapy, which did enhance blood flow among other benefits. Still, they may not go deep enough into the muscle tissue.
Even if a vibrational massage gun (low amplitude) can somehow relieve some pain, it may not be effective when you are massaging large muscles such as quads and hamstrings. That’s why you need a massage gun with a medium or high amplitude.
But sciatica pain can be severe and may require a lighter massage. That’s why a massage gun with a medium-range amplitude may be ideal for managing sciatica.
OUR RECOMMENDATION
We recommend going for a massage gun with 10 to 13mm amplitude.
OUR TAKE A medium-range amplitude of 10-13mm is a sweet spot for managing sciatica pain. If you want more intensity, you may consider devices with the 14-16mm stroke length – those will be more punchy.
But from our experience, a decent stall force is equally crucial. Why?
In our tests, we gauged stall force as the amount of pressure needed to halt a device. We say a device has a low stall force when it easily stalls with very little pressure applied during a massage.
We know that some pressure is needed when treating sciatica using a massage gun. There are different options when it comes to stall force in massage guns.
Massage guns with a stall force of 30lbs. or lower are considered entry-level. Those with a stall force of between 35-50lbs. are considered to be medium-range, while those with 50-60lbs. of stall force are the strongest and most aggressive massage guns – they are not easy to stall.
Studies have shown1 that deep tissue massage can be just as effective as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in treating sciatica pain. Deep tissue massage happens when adequate pressure is applied to the muscle.
In our trials, we found that for smaller muscle groups like the neck, shoulders, or forearms, there’s no need for excessive pressure. But, based on our experience, larger muscle groups like quads, hamstrings, and calves demand deeper pressure.
The thing is, sciatica pain can be severe and you may not feel comfortable applying pressure. If you go for a gun with a high amplitude, the hard hits alone may be enough for an effective massage.
HENCE OUR RECOMMENDATION
That is why we recommend going for a massage gun with medium-range amplitude and medium-range stall force as well. This is a perfect combination for treating sciatica in our opinion.
Here’s why:
OUR TAKE Medium-range stall force, like 35-40lbs. is high enough for a good sciatica massage gun, but some devices can get you more than that.
4.6
This Ekrin 365 is perhaps the most versatile massage guns on the market right now and one of our favorite devices. It has the best features for a massage gun for sciatica and then some. It’s the latest creation of Ekrin Athletics, one of the leading and most exciting massage gun brands out there. We can attest that they made this device for everyone.
Here is a quick video overview, just before we discuss it in detail.
So, unlike their earlier versions of massage guns, this one features a deliberately tinkered handle that makes its ergonomics superb. The handle is thinner and perfect to hold even for users with small hands. It also has an angled handle that allows for a natural grip.
They also added a bit more length to this version so that you can easily reach your lower back – perfect for treating sciatica.
It’s also one of the lightest full-sized massage guns, weighing just 1.8 pounds – it will be easier to handle even during longer sessions.
That said, this gun may be the best option for your sciatica management. It has the best performance features.
These include the medium-range amplitude of 12mm and a cool 40lbs. of stall force. Like we recommended earlier in the article, you don’t need a very weak or very strong device, but something in the middle – and this is it.
The 12mm will give you gentle but steady taps on the skin, while you can comfortably apply pressure on large muscles without a problem. If you want intensity, it has a percussion range of 2000-3200rpm, which we believe will be great for any massage. It has 5 speed settings.
But there’s more with this gun. Ekrin included 4 nicely varied attachments even though they call it an entry-level device. It also comes with a Pressure Sensor to help you monitor how much you’re putting into your massage.
It has a good battery that will last for 4-5 hours per charge. The good thing is the device charges via USB – very convenient.
It’s backed up by a lifetime warranty and superb customer care from Ekrin.
It sells for $179.99 but if you use our MGA20 coupon here at ekrin.com, you can get it for only $143.99 – 20% off.
Overall, this is an excellent device perfect smaller people with lighter frames. If you have big muscles and need something aggressive, you can go for the other more powerful Ekrin guns in B37 and B37S.
READ MORE For more details, refer to our in-depth Ekin 365 review →
We’ve had the pleasure of testing the latest device from Lifepro, a brand that has always resonated with our personal preferences. This one has almost similar specs to our top gun above but with a few letdowns that won’t do any harm to your sciatica treatment.
It has a 13mm amplitude – a bit more punchy than our top recommendation but we have seen a lot of these guns and the 1mm difference isn’t bad in this case. It will still feel more aggressive than a 12mm gun, but it it still has a low likelihood of irritating your sciatica symptoms.
It has 40lbs. of stall force (Lifepro says 45lbs. but in reality it feels the same as Ekrin 365). We believe the amplitude and stall force are perfectly balanced here to make it one of the best massage guns for sciatica.
The percussion range is awesome – 1500-3000rpm. This is a wide range, but awesome if you want to start real slow before you can crank it up a notch.
We like the ergonomics of this gun — the only adjustable massage gun on our list. The arm can be adjusted into 4 lockable positions of 0, 30, 60, and 90 degrees.
This adjustment helps when you want to reach the lower back and other areas that may be hard to reach. We also like that it’s a very quiet massage gun made with modern tech just like the Ekrin 365.
Any Cons?
Yes, this device weighs 2.5 pounds and might be heavy for some people. It’s not the worst thing, but when we tested it with our elderly family members, they complained that it wasn’t as easy to maneuver as Ekrin 365 or Ekrin Bantam. Also, the handle diameter is larger than Ekrin 365’s.
But you will still get a lifetime warranty with this device and fantastic customer support as well.
It’s sold at $149.99, but with our MGA10 coupon that gives the 10% off, you can get it at lifeprofitness.com for only $134.
READ MORE Our full Lifepro DynaFlex massage gun review.
4.6
If you are heavily built (with large muscles) or simply love a strong massage gun, then Achedaway Pro is your device. It’s a bit more expensive than the first 2 we just looked at, but it also comes with more powerful specs.
For instance, it has a stall force of 60lbs. (Achedaway puts it at 80lbs. but we tested it against Theragun Pro, and the power is the same). That much power should be more than enough to massage large muscles even before you factor in the 16mm amplitude – the longest stroke length in the business.
The percussion range is 1700-2800rpm. Not as intense as the previous 2 in our list, but that is because of the longer amplitude.
Another important feature of Achedaway Pro is the huge and awesome battery. It has a capacity of 3200mAh. However, that juice drains out pretty quickly. It will run for 2-4 hours depending on pressure and the speed setting used.
If you plan to use it extensively, we suggest buying the device with a spare battery (at this link, the MGA60 coupon also applies). You can charge one as you use the other.
It’s a very quiet massage gun given what it has to offer. The only disadvantage, though it may not be that bad, is the weight. It weighs 2.6 pounds, perhaps because of the big battery.
It comes with a 2-year warranty and not a lifetime one as Ekrin or Lifepro’s guns. But this is a better deal than what you get with Hypervolts and Theragun Prime or Elite.
It costs $299 but with our MGA60 coupon, entitling to the $60 discount, you can get it from Achedaway for $239. That puts it in the same range as top-notch Ekrin B37/B37S.
READ MORE Check out full details in our Achedaway Pro review.
4.6
For those looking for a budget-friendly option without compromising on quality, based on our experience, this is the device for you. It’s not as excellent as our previous options, but it’s still a top quality massage gun with everything you need.
For starters, it won’t give you insane power but 40lbs. of stall force will be enough for most people to treat sciatica. Add 12mm of stroke length to that medium-range power and you have a decent device that can perform a deep tissue massage if used well.
With a percussion range of 1300-2600rpm, it revs a tad slower than any of our other recommendations, but still high enough. We actually like that it revs low on a first two speeds.
It might not have the same effect as Ekrin 365 or Achedaway Pro, but it will still dispel lactic acid, improve blood flow, and break muscle knots when needed.
We love that:
We don’t like that:
It’s an affordable device. It currently costs $119.99. Get it at Opove.com right here.
READ MORE: Read our hands-on Opove M3 Pro 2022 review.
Having tested various brands, we can say that Theraguns, which pioneered the percussive massage gun industry, are professionally crafted devices that stand out.
All the full-sized, current generation devices feature a 16mm amplitude (apart from Theragun Mini, it has a 12mm amplitude). With this high amplitude, Theraguns are great for deep tissue massage – they’re aggressive and punchy. This may be great for some people but not all.
If your sciatica pain is too intense, a Theragun may be too aggressive for you. You may have to go for the guns with lower amplitude.
But there’s one thing that separates all Theraguns; they don’t all have the same stall force.
The Pro has the highest stall force (60lbs.) among all Theraguns. If you can’t get the Pro, we suggest going for the entry-level Prime, which has a stall force of 30lbs.
Better yet, go for Theragun Elite, which has a stall force of 40lbs. Prime is more affordable but much easier to stall. Still with 16mm stroke length, you may not need to apply any pressure. Theragun Elite is slightly more expensive than Prime, but as we proved in our Theragun Prime vs Elite post, it’s the more versatile option. With 40lbs. of stall force, it matches our top pick (Ekrin 365).
The Cons of Theraguns
You can read more about what we think of Theraguns in our individual reviews:
From our extensive testing sessions, Hyperice Hypervolt has emerged as another prominent name in the percussion massagers industry. They often go head-to-head with Therabody’s Theraguns.
Hyperice already had 2 competitive massage guns in Hypervolt (silver) and Hypervolt Plus. However, they recently unveiled 2 more massage guns in Hypervolt 2 and Hypervolt 2 Pro.
If you love Hypervolts and would like one to treat your sciatica pain, we recommend skipping the silver Hypervolt. Even though it has a decent ~35lbs. of stall force, it lacks a good stroke length – just 10mm, which is vibrational.
You could go for Hypervolt 2. It has a 12mm amplitude which falls within our recommended range. The only disadvantage is the very low stall force. It easily stalls and may not be good enough if you want to apply some pressure. It may be a nice option for those who only want to massage their lower back.
But you are probably better off going for either Hypervolt Plus or Hypervolt 2 Pro. The Hypervolt Plus has a 14mm amplitude and up to 40lbs. of stall force. However, it weighs 3 pounds and may not be easily maneuverable.
Hypervolt 2 Pro will be easier to stall than Hypervolt Plus, but it’s made with newer tech, has improved ergonomics, and is lighter as well.
Hypervolts are expensive. However, older models are currently discounted and you can get Hypervolt Plus at $70 less than Hypervolt 2 Pro.
Cons
TIP You can also read our detailed Hypervolt comparison post.
With our hands-on insights and recommendations, we hope you’re now equipped to choose the best massage gun for sciatica. We have seen how you don’t necessarily need the most powerful or expensive massage gun to treat your sciatica.
If you must, you can opt for either a Theragun or a Hypervolt if you have the budget for them.
However, our recommended picks still give you the best value for money. For us, the best one is Ekrin 365, and if you need a more potent gun, then Achedaway Pro has got you covered.
As always, we strongly encourage you to comment and discuss below. Or you can ask us a question directly here.
Take care!
NOTE: We only use high-quality sources and rely on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations to support the facts within our articles.
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.
February 9, 2024 Made minor text and interlinking changes to reflect the current market state of each device. (Author: Greg)
August 18, 2023 New, revised introduction section and minor editorial corrections. (Author: Luke)
April 10, 2023 Made corrections to the section about Theragun and Hypervolt devices (Author: Luke)
November 20, 2022 We’ve added more photos from our test lab to better demonstrate our hands-on experience with all devices tested. (Author: Luke)
July 2, 2022 New Opove M3 Pro 2 has now replaced its predecessor, Opove M3 Pro MAX. (Author: Luke)
April 12, 2022 Replaced Lifepro Dynasphere (sunset model) with Lifepro DynaFlex. (Author: Luke)
December 1, 2021 Replaced Ekrin B37 with a newly released (and more affordable) Ekrin 365, following our hands-on review in which we found it more suitable for treating sciatica. (Author: Luke)
October 27, 2021 Article fact-checked and reviewed for accuracy by Dr. Alex Stone, DPT.
Published on:
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Written by:
Luke Deszczulka
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Is there a massage-gun-for-sciatica that is comfortable for (frmale) small hands? Am also afflicted with arthritis in hand (CMJ). Appreciate any helpful views.
Hey C.S., thank you for the comment. Did you check our post on massage guns for arthritis? We share some good recommendations there. Hope this helps!