How To Use Percussive Therapeutic Guns To Reduce Pain


  • What Are Percussive Therapeutic Guns?
  • Benefits
  • Use Time
  • How to use
  • Application Speed
  • Potential Side Effects


Gun percussive therapy guns have probably been appearing on your Instagram feed for a long time now. First introduced to the market by Theragun in 2016, deep tissue drilling tools such as the power drill are now widely available, available at all prices, in all sizes and endless products. Before adding a percussive therapy gun to your recovery room, you should know exactly what they are, how they are used, and how they can really help your body heal.


What Are Percussive Therapeutic Guns?

Percussive therapy guns are electronic devices, usually like a power drill, that allow the user to easily give themselves a deep deep tissue massage, explains Elizabeth Gardner, MD. He says: "With a strong rubber ball or other attachment, in order to fire a gun, the gun explodes repeatedly and quickly in the muscles and soft tissues, in order to improve muscle pain and strength," he says.


Eric Holder, MD, likens the movement to “a result of a hammock seen.” But instead of loosening the concrete, the beneficial repetitive movements work to help relieve muscle tension and break the muscle knots.


While this may seem daunting to some people, the percussive therapy gun can be used in a gentle way. Many machines also provide vibration treatments — low power amplitude, adds Gardner. "Vascular therapy may be a better option for patients with chronic pain or with severe muscle tissue who may not be able to tolerate more aggressive treatment."


Benefits

Research is limited on the proven benefits of guns for percussive therapy, but there is some evidence that using one can be beneficial for a variety of reasons.


May Help Reduce Early Muscle Anxiety (DOMS): The owner points to the initial evidence that it may reduce Delayed Start Muscle Soreness (DOMS) - pain that you may experience within a few days after exercise. A January 2014 study published in the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research for Doctors found that sedative therapy (50 Hz vibrations for 5 minutes) and massage therapy (15 minutes) were equally “significant” in reducing muscle pain in bodybuilders compared. and the governing body. .1 "DOMS is associated with ultrastructural soft tissue injuries that can occur by completing unusual or vigorous physical activity, with severe pain usually within 24 to 72 hours after exercise," explains Holder. "There is evidence that percussion therapy such as massage may help reduce or prevent DOMS."

May Help Improve Blood Flow: The supervisor also points to evidence that using a percussive therapeutic rifle may improve blood flow / circulation. If the muscles are tight, tight, or swollen, they can reduce blood flow to the area.2 "Improved blood flow functions to reduce muscle pain, inflammation, and pressure on the muscles / knots involved," he explains.

It May Improve Adaptability: Preliminary evidence suggests that percussive therapy guns may be helpful in improving the range of motion (ROM), similar to the therapeutic routine release.3

May Help Relieve Stress: Science has long supported massage as a temporary relief from stress.4 Although science has limited the ability to relieve stress by treating stroke, many people say that because they work similarly, they also help relieve stress. allergies and stress relief.

It May Help Improve Your Sleep: Therabody, aka Theragun, conducted a 2020 study and found that 87% of participants fell asleep immediately after using the Theragun Percussive Massage Therapy device.5

Time to Use Percussive Therapy Gun

There are a number of ways and circumstances in which using a massage gun may work, explains Gardner.


Before Exercise: Before exercise it is a good time to use a massage gun to keep you warm, according to Gardner, as it can help increase blood flow to the muscles you intend to exercise. "Spend one minute on each muscle group you will be working on, as well as on other nearby, supportive muscles," he suggests. "For example, if you are going to run or do low body work, be sure to massage the quads, hamstrings, glutes, low back, and calves." There is also some evidence that using one can improve joint mobility before operation, he adds.

Post-Workout: Using a massage gun after exercise can help keep the circulation strong, "to continue to deliver oxygen and nutrients to tired muscles," she says. "It may also help to reduce muscle swelling, thereby reducing post-exercise exercise."

When You Feel Muscle Pain: A massage gun is commonly used to treat painful muscles one or two days after exercise.2 a level that does not cause pain, ”he points out.

When Faced With Muscle Depression: Finally, Gardner points out that whiplash therapy may be helpful in reducing stress and reducing general muscle tension. "Exercising for one to two minutes in each major muscle group has been suggested to help the body relax."

How to use a Percussive Therapy Gun

Holder emphasizes that percussive therapy guns "tend to be much easier for users." However, it is important to use them properly to gain benefits and to avoid injury. "I generally recommend that I start at the lowest possible level, monitor tolerance, and increase the setting as needed," he suggests.


Then, just direct the tool to the muscle group you are trying to identify and let the machine do the work. "You do not need to force / push the tool on the muscle but instead, let it swing or slide around the muscle to use percussion treatment." Gardner specifies that you should spend one to two minutes on each targeted muscle group.