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This is a common question we get from readers. Here, we discuss the potential benefits and considerations of using your massage gun to manage it.
This is an informative post to answer some common questions we get about massage guns and cellulite. It is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical condition.
Research is limited on percussive massagers since they are a new type of device, so many ideas will still need testing and vetting.
However, rest assured that the information provided here is accurate because this post has been written by a licensed physiotherapist, Dr. Alex Stone, DPT.
We encourage you to check with your doctor before using any of the advice given here.
TIP: In a hurry and need some advice on cellulite percussive massagers? Check out our guide on the best massage guns for cellulite.
What is Cellulite? What Causes It?
It is a word used to describe areas of skin with a dimpled, cottage cheese-like appearance. These areas are most commonly found on the buttocks, hips, and thighs but can also develop in other areas, including the arms and belly.
The exact causes of cellulite are still unknown. Still, the likely cause is related to fibrous connective tissue – the ropes and covers holding down everything beneath the skin – becoming less firm and allowing small groups of fat cells to push through toward the skin’s surface.
This causes a bumpy, curdled appearance of the skin from an outside view.
Research shows(1) that women are far more likely to experience it (sorry, ladies). This is thought to be related to differences in connective tissue patterns between men and women, and there may also be hormonal influences that affect how fat cells are stored and developed throughout the body.
Women are far more likely to experience cellulite.
Is Cellulite Bad?
It is very common, but it can make some of us wonder, “Is there something wrong with me?”
There are many perfectly healthy people who have it, and for some people, it is unavoidable. In fact, research shows that up to 90% of women will deal with it at some point.
The good news is that cellulite is mostly harmless, and for most of us, the biggest concern is personal appearance.
In some instances, it may be related to problems with diet and lifestyle. In these cases, cellulite may point to other health problems that may need to be addressed separately with the help of your doctor.
There are many potential treatments for it from research and personal reports, but hand-held massagers seem to be gaining traction as a treatment method for it in recent years.
Common Treatments for Cellulite
There are many treatments available for it. These include topical creams, massage, exercise, laser, shockwave, and surgery.
Massage therapy comes in many different forms, and several have been used to treat it. Deep tissue massage is a widely used treatment because it assists in improving blood circulation and lymphatic drainage (2).
This can improve the appearance of your skin and make cellulite less pronounced; however, the effects are temporary and require regular use of massage therapy.
Professional therapeutic treatment
Is a Massage Gun Good for Cellulite?
Many people are turning to percussive therapy to manage it, but do they really work?
Unfortunately, there’s not much research on this topic yet. However, we can compare the effects of your massage gun to a deep tissue massage because the two affect your body similarly.
A massage gun may be helpful because it provides percussive therapy, a form of massage that uses repetitive pulses to mobilize your muscles and other soft tissue. This helps improve circulation and ” soften ” the massaged area, similar to a deep tissue massage.
We know that hand-held massagers and traditional massage help improve circulation, but is this enough to treat it?
In our opinion, a massage gun may help manage it, but mostly in indirect ways.
Percussive therapy could be a useful tool to manage cellulite.
Can A Massage Gun Break Up Cellulite?
As far as we know, this percussive device will not be able to break up or “blast away” areas of cellulite you would like to remove; there is no research to support this yet, nor does it make sense for your body to respond to percussive therapy in this way.
Instead, there are two indirect ways that percussive therapy might help reduce it.
The first benefit, as explained above, is by increasing circulation and drainage in areas affected by it. This may offer similar benefits to regular deep tissue massage therapy, which temporarily improves the appearance of your skin and makes it less visible.
The second benefit is that it enhances exercise recovery. Since exercise is known to be effective in reducing the appearance and formation of it, most people will benefit from exercising regularly (3). Without good recovery techniques, exercise can lead to overuse injuries quickly. A percussive massager can help keep your muscles supple and could help get you into the gym more often – this would enhance your ability to use exercise as a treatment for it.
For these reasons, we recommend using percussive therapy for general massage and exercise recovery, enjoying cellulite improvements as a potential bonus.
How To Use A Massage Gun for Cellulite
If you know that it is safe to use a percussive device, follow these basic steps for best results:
Hold the device, turn it on, and set it to medium speed.
Gently apply the head of your massager over the desired area at a straight angle (not slanted) and slowly apply pressure until a medium intensity is reached (strong, but not painful).
Slowly move the device’s head around the area while maintaining consistent pressure and a straight angle. Small circles are an effective way to cover ground evenly.
Focus on one area of the body for 1-2 minutes. Do not exceed this until you can wait and assess if your body responds well (no bruising, swelling, or pain afterward).
Adjust your speed and intensity based on your comfort in each body area. Do not push into pain!
Wondering what is the best massage gun attachment for treating it? There are many attachments available with today’s massage guns. Some standard attachments include the ball, flat head, bullet, and fork attachments. But which one is best?
We think you’ll want to use the ball or flat head attachments.
This is because the wider, less pointed attachments will better affect blood circulation and lymphatic drainage, which are attributed to better skin appearance.
Remember, our goal is not to “break up” the cellulite with aggressive or pointed tools, so we don’t recommend using bullet or fork attachments for this purpose.
Hypervolt attachments set featuring some of the most popular types
How Often to Use a Massage Gun for Cellulite
We recommend daily use with a similar pattern or sequence for best results with your massage gun.
This will give your body the best chance to benefit from percussive therapy and help determine if your technique is effective.
While it might be tempting to use your massage gun several times daily, especially when you want to see fast results, it is important to give your body enough rest between sessions to ensure you recover properly.
Conversely, only picking up the massage gun a few days per week will likely not give your body enough stimulus to create a benefit.
Ekrin 365 is a great choice as a daily-use massage gun.
Can a Massage Gun Help with Cellulite? Bottom Line
Hopefully, this post has clarified this question. The truth is, there just isn’t enough research yet to know for sure if percussive therapy (aka massage guns) can effectively bring down persistent cellulite.
However, your massage gun may be an important companion to a regular exercise routine, healthy diet, and good lifestyle habits.
Because cellulite can be caused by many factors, it is difficult to pinpoint the exact source and determine which treatment will be most effective. For this reason, it may take some trial and error to determine which treatment approach is the best for you. This may include trying different exercise combinations, massage, creams, and lifestyle changes and watching how your body responds.
We know that massage guns are helpful for many other reasons related to fitness and recovery, and that’s why we recommend doing your homework before picking a massage gun that fits your needs.
References
Friedmann, D. P., Vick, G. L., & Mishra, V. (2017). Cellulite: a review with a focus on subcision.Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology, 10, 17–23. https://doi.org/10.2147/CCID.S95830 Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5234561/
Bayrakci Tunay V, Akbayrak T, Bakar Y, Kayihan H, Ergun N. Effects of mechanical massage, manual lymphatic drainage and connective tissue manipulation techniques on fat mass in women with cellulite.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2010;24(2):138-142. doi:10.1111/j.1468-3083.2009.03355.x Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19627407/
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Dr. Alex Stone, DPT, CSCS
Dr. Alex Stone, DPT, CSCS
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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A great post without any doubt.