Massage guns | Which one to choose and why use them?

Until recently,massage guns were the preserve of a few top athletes who knew exactly how to use them and how to get the most out of them. However, due to the current pandemic circumstances and often sitting behind a computer monitor all day long, this tool is also quickly coming into the view of the general public - and not just athletes, but also ordinary manual and intellectual workers. So in our article today we should take a look at what massage guns are, whether they do any visible work and what to choose them for.

What are massage guns anyway?

There are many ways to massage sore and stiff muscles. Increasingly, athletes are using a variety of rubber or lacrosse balls. A massage gun can be thought of as a ball attached to a small jackhammer that massages and relaxes stiff muscles with constant vibrations whose frequency you determine.Since each massage gun has a built-in motor, you have almost nothing to worry about , and with dozens of strokes per second, your entire body is actively massaged in a matter of seconds.

Just set the frequency on the massage gun and you don't have to worry about anything else.

What else is in the package?

When you order a massage gun, you have to take into account that it won't be a cheap investment. The specific range depends, of course, on how good a device you require and how often you intend to use it, but we'll cover that in a later paragraph of this article. When you buy an average massage gun, you get 4 basic components in the package:

1. The massage gun itself - This is a tool similar to an acoustic drill, but it has a specific cutout for each tool that you can change as needed.
2. Charging adapter - Since the massage gun works thanks to a motor, of course, regular recharging is necessary. This takes about 4 hours for an average gun, after which the device will last about three hours of continuous operation.
3. Instruction manual - So that you know which specific attachment to use, what intensity to choose and how to store the device.
4. Attachments - Because each area and each part of the body requires a different intensity and different pressure distribution, it is necessary to use different attachments. If the gun you choose happens to contain a single attachment, you should know that something is wrong and you will probably need to purchase some components. There are a variety of attachments, and when buying a regular and affordable massage gun, you will most often see the following:
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   1. Round head - If a massage gun only contained one head, this would be it. The round head is versatile, exerts moderate pressure and is suitable for all large areas. Massage calves, hamstrings and quadriceps, breasts and back with confidence. Sometimes there is a smaller/larger round head in the package in addition to the standard round head, but their use is generally the same. For complete beginners, the larger heads are slightly better because the massage is not as intense or painful and does not reach as deep.
   2. Double-fork shaped head - This head distributes the pressure evenly across the two forks, making it the perfect tool for massaging the muscles along the spine. You can safely start from the erectors and gradually move to the neck, but we recommend massaging it at a lower intensity. If you are familiar with the anatomy of the human body, you can also massage some parts of the legs with low intensity - in particular the tailor's, semi-collar and semi-clavicular muscles - it can also be used to massage the lower calves and Achilles tendon.
   3. Flat - As the name implies, this is a very small attachment that has the ability to massage with relatively high intensity and tension due to its flat ending. It is suitable for both larger and smaller muscle groups and you don't have to be afraid to use it on more sensitive areas that it will massage intensely but gently.
   4. Mushroom-shaped head - This is a very gentle attachment that exerts only minimal intensity. It is ideal to use it on muscle groups located in close proximity to joints and bones. It is not a painful or intense attachment and if you have never tried a massage gun, you can use it to start the massage itself. The wine cork-shaped head performs the same function and is perhaps even a little more gentle.
   5. The spike-shaped head - This delivers a very intense massage and is best used to target specific small points - for example, specific parts of the muscles, called trigger points, or parts of the feet or hands. However, this head is not very often included.

You will find a variety of heads in the package and each one has its own justification.

What to expect from them? Do they even work?

If you've read this far in the article on massage guns, you're probably wondering if they're worth trying. So it's time to describe a brief theory of how these devices work and give you our unbiased experience. The head of the massage gun hits the areas in question with a constant frequency, thereby affecting, among other things, the blood flow through the muscles. This in turn helps to achieve a better supply of nutrients to the muscles and this, together with the deep massage , provides pain relief after strenuous training, manual activity or sedentary work.

And our experience? They are unequivocally positive. However, you have to wait for a relatively long time - after one ten-minute massage, there are no long-term results. A short massage may relieve acute pain, but if you have poor posture, for example, it won't solve these problems forever. Long-term use of a massage gun is good for this, and you will notice better recovery and even better range of motion with basic exercises. As one of several forms of active regeneration, we can really recommend the massage gun - we used it twice a day for about 10 minutes each.

How to massage the parts? What intensity to choose?

If you have ordered a massage gun, it has arrived at your home and you are about to use it for the first time, there is a simple lesson to follow: "Massage should never hurt and should be pleasant." This will probably require very low intensity at first. So don't be afraid to start very gently and choose the lowest setting your massage gun allows - don't worry, your body will get used to this type of massage very quickly and you will be able to apply more intense and frequent pressure with each massage. But once you feel pain in a particular area and your body starts to show that it is not comfortable, it's time to stop or ease up. After all, just like any other massage, it should be a relaxing and restful activity for you to enjoy and unwind with.

The massage itself is very simple and you will learn to control everything intuitively. While you can massage most areas such as breasts, legs and arms on your own, you will need the help of someone else for a complete stretch. You should always aim the massage gun perpendicularly at the body part in order to achieve the best possible pressure distribution.

What should I choose a massage gun for? Which ones do we offer?

Because we know how important it is to make the right choice, we offer several different massage guns on our website, with different price ranges and a range of functions. Let us briefly introduce some of them:

• HMS PDM4482 - This massage gun has the best reviews from our customers, who praise the clear display showing battery status and massage intensity. While the gun is quiet, it can be quite heavy for extended use, as it weighs a full kilo and a half, whereas some competing products are much lighter. In terms of price, it represents a happy medium as it comes in at 2249 kroner, which works out very well in relation to the quality. It takes 4 hours to charge and can run for 240 minutes.
• Spokey LETO - If you're looking for an affordable massage gun, definitely choose the Spokey LETO, which costs less than 1500 Kč but has great features. The 6 heads take care of a complete full body massage and also last for 4 hours, so you definitely don't have to charge it every day. It also only weighs about a kilo, so even women can use it. However, you have to be prepared for the lack of Czech instructions - you may have to get to know the gun gradually on your own. In the same price range, there is also the HMS PDM3131 pistol, but it does not show the battery status on the display and lasts only 2 hours on a single charge.
• HMS PDM3123 - This model, on the other hand, is the most expensive massage gun from our offer, which nevertheless comes out very well. For 3,269 CZK you get a gun with such technical parameters that even much more expensive variants could envy. It's quiet, the available massage heads are high quality and it's perfect for everyday use. If you don't mind paying extra, this model is a safe bet.

What to take away from today's article?

The massage gun is a really great invention that can bring a whole host of benefits with regular use. You'll improve blood circulation, boost nutrient supply to your muscles, and in the long run, your mobility and range of motion on various basic exercises. However, you must expect to pay extra for a massage gun. There is no reason for amateur athletes to buy equipment for tens of thousands of crowns, but if a massage gun costs less than 1000 CZK, do not rely on it too much. We can recommend all the products from our eshop, the safe bet is the more expensive but extremely high-quality HMS PDM3123.