Author, Expert Board Member
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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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Can you use a massage gun on your neck? How can a massage gun help with the pain in your neck? If these are some of the questions bugging you, we’ll provide an answer in this article. We’ll also try to answer questions like, “are massage guns good for neck pain?”
Many things can cause pain in your neck, including sitting on your computer the whole day working, exercising, or even using your smartphone for a long time (you know how addictive smartphones can be, right).
Sometimes you just need the pain to go away without sweating it out so much. Good news…
Massage guns can help… but you have to use them properly.
PRO TIP You can read this post if you want the best massage gun for the neck and shoulder.
Before we tell you about using a massage gun on your neck, we have to let you know that we are not physiotherapists. We are not doctors either. If the pain in your neck persists after following our advice, you need to consult a doctor.
We know about massage guns because we buy, test and use them every day. However, when it comes to medical advice (for medical advice posts), we consult our experts (licensed physiotherapists, chiropractors, and medical doctors). This post has been medically reviewed for accuracy.
Yes, you can use a massage gun on your neck; you just need to know where and how.
Studies show that percussive therapy can prevent DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness)1. In many cases, neck pain and tension comes from overstraining the muscles in your neck.
Massage guns work by improving blood circulation within muscles. This relieves pain by supplying fresh oxygen to the muscle tissue. They also help relieve stiff muscles2 by reducing muscle tension, which helps you relax.
They are also great for DIY massage. You can carry your massage gun anywhere with you and use it when the need arises. If you experience neck pains at work, you can take out your massage gun and sort out your problem immediately.
Again, with massage guns on your neck, you need to know where to massage.
Never massage the front part of your neck with a massage gun. The pain in your neck rarely originates from there, and many areas on the front of your neck are very sensitive to pressure.
Instead, you need to know which muscles to target. These muscles are all located at the back and sides of your neck. They include:
Massage guns work either with vibrations or percussions.
Vibrations are awesome when you want to relax. They help improve blood flow through the areas being vibrated. On the other hand, percussions do the same thing (and more), only they tend to be more aggressive.
Now, the neck (especially the front part) is delicate. Even if a massage gun can only offer vibration therapy, you need to be careful not to mess with the front part of your neck.
CAUTION Trying to massage this area could lead to serious harm. Here’s how:
The front part of your neck carries some really important stuff – like crucial arteries. Using a massage gun directly on these arteries could literally damage them.
The most important arteries around the front of the neck are the carotid arteries. They help with the supply of blood to the brain. The internal carotid arteries supply blood to the brain, while the external arteries supply blood to your face and neck.
When you apply a massage gun directly to these arteries, you could slow or stop this important blood supply. This could result in dizziness, confusion, fainting, or more serious problems like a stroke.
Our advice is that you leave the front part of your neck alone and focus on the back/sides of your neck. If you want the best results, you need to focus on the trapezius muscle. It’s located just above your shoulders.
Yes. That’s where your focus needs to be. We’ve already seen that it can be pretty harmful to try and massage the front part of your neck using a massage gun. However, it’s perfectly safe to use one on the back of your neck – you just need to know where to apply it.
The back of your neck has a lot of delicate parts that you need to watch out for when you are using a massage gun. For example, never use a massage gun directly on your spine. You could cause bruising, or more serious damage like a fracture.
When you want to relieve the pain and the stiffness in your neck, focus on the levator scapulae muscle and the upper trapezius. These two muscles work together to elevate the scapula. If you are an athlete, especially if your sport requires you to do repetitive movements (throwers and swimmers), you will need a massage here.
The same goes for construction workers and other jobs with repetitive arm movements. To alleviate that pain, you may need to massage the back of your neck and (same as for athletes) focus on the scapulae and the upper trapezius.
Shoulder tension, which tends to go hand in hand with pain at the back of your neck, could also be treated using a massage gun by following the pattern of working on these two major muscles. One large factor in developing neck pain and tension is posture.
When we stand or sit for long hours without support for our head and shoulders, our upper trapezius and levator scapulae become tired from holding our neck and shoulders in place. When these muscles become tired, we start to feel soreness and tension in our head and neck.
You can read our best massage gun for neck and shoulder pain post for the best recommended devices. Once you have your preferred device, the key is to try to use that device properly.
Like we’ve said, you will need to use the right massage gun neck attachment if you want the massage to be effective and safe. Again, here we recommend using something you are comfortable with.
Most people prefer softer attachments. Some massage guns come with cushioned or Soft attachments. For example, Ekrin 365 and Bantam have an excellent soft ball attachment. Theragun Pro has the Supersoft attachment.
You can use the bullet or fork attachments for tough spots or trigger points.
The fork attachment is designed to be used around the spine. The two prongs go on either side of the spine. None of the prongs should touch the spine (bone area).
PRO TIP
Before using the fork attachment, first inspect if it is wide enough to massage with safely. Some fork attachments are designed to be too narrow – for instance, what we saw recently with the Opove APEX massage gun. If the fork is too narrow it will hit your spine.
You can also use the standard ball or flat attachments. These can also just be as effective in relieving the pain in your neck and shoulder areas, but tend to be most effective with large muscle groups like the upper trapezius. Find more information in our guide on massage gun attachment uses here.
The trick is to try out different attachments and figure out which one works best for you.
Use the right attachment and adjust it for appropriate speed and pressure.
Once you have your preferred massage gun, read through the manufacturer’s manual to familiarize yourself with it. Once done, it’s time to massage your neck and shoulder to get rid of the pain and stiffness.
Follow these steps:
PRO TIP Do not forget the practical tips of making sure you maintain a proper posture when working on your computer or browsing through your phone, and taking frequent activity breaks to get your joints moving. It’s also important to eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly to keep your neck and shoulder muscles in tip-top shape.
No. Using a massage gun on your neck can be actually helpful for relieving muscle tension and pain, but only when used correctly. However, you must take precautions and know where to massage. Avoid massaging the front part of your neck, as it contains sensitive areas and crucial arteries that, if damaged, can lead to serious consequences. Instead, focus on the back and sides of your neck, targeting the trapezius, levator scapulae, and sternocleidomastoid muscles. Be cautious not to apply the massage gun directly on your spine. Also use soft attachments and gentle speed settings.
Avoid massaging the front of your neck. Instead, concentrate on the back and shoulders, specifically targeting the upper trapezius muscles. Be gentle, apply light pressure, and use softer rather than harder massage gun heads for a safer experience.
The best massage gun attachment for the neck depends on personal comfort and preference. Many people prefer softer attachments, such as cushioned or soft ball attachments. You can also use bullet or fork attachments for tough spots or trigger points (but be extra gentle here). The fork attachment is designed to be used around the spine, with the two prongs on either side of it. Additionally, standard ball or flat attachments can be effective for larger muscle groups like the upper trapezius. Experiment with different attachments to determine which one works best for you.
It is safe to use a Theragun on the neck if used correctly. However, due to their high amplitude and significant power, Theraguns can be more aggressive than other massage devices. To ensure safety, apply controlled pressure, gently glide the Theragun over the back of the neck, and consider using soft attachments designed for a gentler experience on your skin.
So, can you use a massage gun on your neck? We believe we have answered this question in our article today. Massage guns and percussion therapy can help with neck and shoulder pain. However, you need to know how to use one to get the best results.
But a massage gun isn’t the silver bullet for a healthy neck and shoulders. You need to practice a healthy lifestyle. This includes regular exercise, not spending too much time in one position (taking breaks from activities requiring you to maintain one posture), stretching or yoga, and a healthy diet.
Keep in mind that a DIY massage with a massage gun might never replace a Physiotherapist or Chiropractor.
However, it can complement manual therapy and guided exercise3. Always consult your physio or chiropractor, especially when the pain doesn’t go away or comes back shortly. If you have severe pain that doesn’t change with your position, dizziness, or numbness in your face, consult your medical doctor.
Lastly, if you haven’t yet decided on the right device for you, we have another post where we have done extensive research and recommended the best massage gun for neck and shoulder pain.
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.
April 17, 2023 A FAQ section has been added, addressing the use of massage guns on the neck. (Author: Greg)
February 28, 2022 Medically reviewed by Dr. Alex Stone, DPT, CSCS.
Published on:
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Written by:
Luke Deszczulka
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