Are Hand held Massagers Effective for Long-Term Muscle Recovery

The answer is affirmative. According to the numerous studies and user experiences, handheld massagers help to shorten the long-term recovery process because they decrease the muscle tension and pain, as well as support the blood circulation.

The survey held in 2022 showed that more than 80% of the users experienced great relaxation and pain decrement about 40%-50% after they started to use hand held massagers. These findings prove that hand held massagers can be effectively used for the long-term muscle recovery.

Massage Gun Working Principle

The general operation of handheld massagers is through mechanical vibration and pressure transmission. The massage machine focuses on the muscle fibers and the fascia layer and is very effective in relieving the tension of muscle, promoting blood circulation, thus reducing the pain. The core mechanism is mechanical stimulation, thereby evoke muscle clonus to relax and increase local blood flow.

• Massagers are of either 20-60 Hz with the 30-50 Hz being the most effective in the significant alleviation of chronic myofascial pain syndrome.
• The general amplitude ranges from 6-12 millimeters, suitable for different depth of muscle. With adjustment, the longer-term need for recovery can be satisfied by the use.

Using handheld massagers for ten minutes enhances the blood flow in the muscle by 25% and reduces the lactic concentration by 22%, according to the higher education institution studies, which are essential during long-term rehabilitation training.

Long-Term Muscle Recovery After Exercise

One study by the American College of Sports Medicine showed that participants had their muscle stiffness reduced by 47 percent and decrease in soreness was a massive 30% when using handheld massager for half an hour.

The use of a Portable Handheld Massager for an extended period enables users to maintain excellent muscle health, that decreases the chances of suffering from chronic pains and fatigue.

Specific Applications

• Speed Up Post-Exercise Recovery: Handheld massagers can stimulate local blood perfusion, improve lactic acid clearance efficiency and reduce the recovery time. For instance, one research with 50 sportspersons get concluded that a self-massager of muscle recovery was reduced by an average around 25%.
• Preventing Injury: A handheld massager protects you from muscle injuries due to its dynamic stretching before exercise and passive recovery after exercises.

Effects on Myofascial Pain

Myofascial Pain Syndrome is a type of chronic muscle pain produced by trigger points. Handheld massagers apply direct stimulation to trigger points by deep tissue vibration. Using handheld massagers has great effects on ameliorating MPS and long-term muscle tension.

An American medical journal published a study in 2021. The study showed that 8 weeks after using handheld massagers, 85% of MPS patient pain scores reduced from 7.4 to 3.2 and remained at this reduced level for the next 3 months.

Application Scenarios

• Neck and Should Pain: a vibration frequency of 30-50Hz while the massager is applied for 10-15 minutes r session allows mitigating the pain caused by trigger points concentrated in the neck and sir areas.
• Lower Back Pain: due to the opportunity of adjusting amplitude and intensity of the vibration, the High Frequency Professional Handheld Massager allows effusively relaxing deep muscle tissue in the back and, as a result, reducing the frequency of pain episodes.

The usage of a hand held massager not only allows relieving short-time discomfort but also facilitates the long-time muscle health and pain mitigation. 

Usage Suggestions and Precautions

To achieve the best results in long-term muscle recovery, the use of different types of massage guns must be scientifically regulated to avoid over-reliance. It is recommended not to exceed 15 minutes per session to prevent overuse syndrome.

Target Groups

• General population can use massagers for daily muscle relaxation and tension relief.
• For example, individuals with hypertension or heart disease should use massagers under a doctor’s guidance.

Precautions

• Do not use a massage gun to massage your bones or joints, as this may cause injury.
• Avoid applying excessive pressure to the same area to prevent soft tissue injury.
• Maintain proper posture during use to avoid muscle strain from improper usage.

According to the ABEGET brand user survey report, with proper use, handheld massagers can serve as a supplementary tool for long-term muscle recovery, but they cannot completely replace professional medical intervention.