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A MASSAGE GUNcan be instrumental in creating a lasting and regular recovery routine at home. As someone whose job involves working out almost every day, bringing recovery into my daily life has been huge in keeping me moving toward my goals. I like to use them to activate my legs to make the most out of sprint sessions and provide therapy after heavy lifting sessions. But they’re not only great for athletes or fitness buffs; a massage gun can help anyone relieve sore muscles, improve circulation, and mitigate stiffness after tough workouts.
I have a few members of my family who regularly steal my massage gun to address stiffness or aches while watching Netflix or between Zoom calls at their desk. They’re more compact than foam rollers and pack way more of a punch when it comes to targeting your muscles. Plus, most models are compact enough for on-the-go use to travel with or toss in your gym bag
“There’s plenty of research to show massage guns have the ability to increase mobility, decrease pain and soreness, and improve overall performance,” says Renato Sanchez, PT, DPT, C.S.C.S., a physical therapist for the Real Salt Lake soccer club in the MLS. “It won’t be the fix-all tool to dramatically improve your health, but it will be a valuable supplement to your routine,” Sanchez adds
But let’s be real: The massage gun market has become totally saturated. And with so many options out there, it’s hard to decipher which ones are actually worth your hard-earned cash. (Although if you really want to save some dough, you can attempt to turn a jigsaw into a massage gun.) While there are certainly some great budget massage guns, you have to be careful with what you choose
With specific recovery routines and preferences in mind, our guide of massage guns represents some of the best options on the market right now—including a deep dive into our top-tested models from Theragun and Hyperice, the two most popular massage gun brands out there
Discover why we love each percussion massage gun model below, then keep scrolling to read advice from our experts on what to look for and the best practices for use. Note that different companies refer to the speed as percussions per minute, shortened to PPMs, or revolutions per minute, shortened to RPMs. They mean the same thing, but for this story we use PPMs
As the Fitness and Reviews Editor at Men’s Health, part of my job is to evaluate the latest and greatest recovery gear available. I’ve used massage guns regularly for the past decade for muscle activation and post-training recovery. The testing pool for this list started with dozens of models across a range of price points, including the best-selling brands, both established and new. I tested each for several weeks, in multiple scenarios, including at home and at the gym.
In addition to my own testing, this guide was made with input and testing notes from other knowledgeable Men’s Health editors, including MH Fitness Director Ebenezer Samuel, C.S.C.S., and Senior Fitness Editor Brett Williams, NASM. We consulted with respected physical therapists like Vinh Pham, PT, at Myodetox and Renato Sanchez, C.S.C.S., at Real Salt Lake for expert advice. We evaluated each device for durability, effectiveness, ergonomics (for ease of use), and portability. We also considered price point, as many massage guns offer better overall value than others.
After all this testing and research, these are the seven best massage guns we recommend
To learn more about what to look for in a massage gun, we spoke with Vinh Pham, PT, a physical therapist and the founder of Myodetox, a manual therapy and movement clinic with locations in Canada and the U.S. According to Pham, the three most important things are reliability, noise, and battery life. “I need something that I know is well-made and won’t malfunction during operation, especially because I’m using it on injured athletes. Noise is the next most important factor. I need to be able to talk to my athletes over the noise of the gun without yelling at them.”
Keeping treatment quiet is a major priority. “Personally, noise to me is number one,” says Pham. “I want to be able to use the massage guns in public, and having it sound like a power tool would make it unusable.” This is a feeling that I also agree with; especially when treating yourself around other people, you can feel self-conscious
Next up is battery life, as PTs and athletes can’t have guns dying in the middle of treatment. Pham says that he expects a massage gun to last several full days without requiring a charge. “You’ll also want to be able to throw the gun in your bag or take it on a weekend trip without worrying about finding an outlet,” Pham says
Given the fact that massage guns are required to vibrate intensely in order to get the job done, it’s not the kind of product you want to be sent with loose screws. Given how much the market has grown in recent years, there have been a lot of knock-off brands releasing sub-par models that won’t go the distance. Hands-on experience, like our team at Men’s Healthfocuses on, is important in the research process. All of our picks have been vetted for durability, but it comes as no surprise that if you want the best and a brand name you can trust, you should expect to spend a little more.
Sufficient speed, or percussions per minute (PPM), plays a role in how the gun promotes blood flow. The higher the percussive rate, the more it can stimulate circulation. Look for a massage gun with a high percussive force and adjustable speed settings so you can deliver adequate force to different muscles. Another factor to consider is amplitude, which describes the amount of distance the massage head travels back and forth. This controls how effectively you can target certain muscle groups and how deeply the massager can get into the muscle tissue.
Just as important as amplitude is the gun’s stall force, or the amount of pressure that the motor can apply to the muscle before it stops working. The higher the stall force, the more powerful a massage the gun can put out. Remember, though, that a massage gun shouldn’t necessarily attack your muscles. In fact, for most people, less force is more. So don’t get overly caught up in having the most “powerful” gun on the market; you likely won’t need it to gain recovery benefits.
Different attachments can provide different massage techniques and sensations that may be suitable for different muscles. Many massage guns tout a host of attachments, but realize this: You’ll likely just use a handful of these (or sometimes, your favorite one). So don’t get deluded into purchasing because of multiple attachments. Once you’ve purchased your massage gun, be sure to properly research what attachments are effective for what muscles. Using the wrong attachment can dramatically alter the effectiveness of the massage gun.
A portable and lightweight massage gun is ideal, especially if you plan to use it on the go or travel with it. Consider the weight, size, and the case included
Of course, even the best guns leave room for improvement. Some options come with convenient travel cases and charging stands—something Pham would like to see more products offer. He also mentions that dishwasher-safe attachment heads would make for easier cleaning. And, as the market continues to progress, he hopes for smaller (yet still powerful) designs and Bluetooth app integration
Renato Sanchez, PT, DPT, C.S.C.S., is a doctor of physical therapy working for MLS soccer club Real Salt Lake
Vinh Pham, PT, a physical therapist and the founder of Myodetox
Sanchez recommends first asking yourself why you’re considering a massage gun. “What are you looking to get out of one? Is it for recovery, pain relief, or helping you reach your fitness goals? If you answered yes to any of those, then you might be a good candidate to add one to your shopping cart,” he explains
“Massage guns can be used as an alternative to the foam roller as a self-myofascial release tool,” adds Pham. He notes that benefits include everything from decreased stress, pain, and tissue tension to enhanced recovery, blood circulation, and range of motion
“You can use it pre-workout to warm up the muscles and post-workout to decrease tightness and soreness,” says Pham
You don’t want to spend hours upon hours using your massage gun. Instead, you’ll want to spend 90 to 120 seconds on any given muscle group, floating the gun across that area “Aim to follow the direction of the muscle fibers. That means running your gun across your chest, from the center toward your shoulder, instead of running it up and down your chest.”
But be mindful to not run your massage gun across joints; you want to keep it focused on the soft tissue only. “And don’t try to aggressively drive the gun deep into the muscle, expecting more ‘relief.’ Using a massage gun shouldn’t hurt,” explains Samuel
Want to learn more on how you should be using one of these buzzy tools? Check out our how-to-use massage guns guide for instructions for best practices before, during, and after workouts
Massage guns have gained a lot of popularity in recent years as a tool for muscle recovery—but do they really work? The blunt answer is they can. But it all depends on how, when, and where you use them
These massagers offer rapid, percussive strokes designed to penetrate the muscle tissue, stimulate blood flow, and help break up adhesions. The research on the effectiveness of massage guns for muscle recovery is promising, but still limited
A study published in the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research found that using a massage gun on the quadriceps muscles after exercise resulted in a significant reduction in muscle soreness and an increase in muscle flexibility compared to a control group. Another study found that using a massage gun after exercise improved blood flow to the muscles and reduced muscle fatigue
So, they can help with muscle soreness with correct use, but shouldn’t be used as a replacement for other recovery methods such as rest, proper nutrition, active stretching, and dynamic mobility work
We asked Sanchez how folks can get to those hard-to-reach areas with their massage guns. Here’s his take: “Massage guns mainly target superficial muscles making it hard to isolate deeper musculature. Therefore, yes, the location of muscles can impact the effectiveness of this modality
I think it’s safe to say the majority of people can reach the front side of their bodies using a massage gun, but you’ll need decent shoulder mobility if you’re looking to target the mid and low back. That’s when you’d want to get a massage gun that is more ergonomic or can be adjusted
If mobility is a limiting factor, you may consider trading the massage gun for a lacrosse ball for pinpoint contact. Sometimes you might just be better off asking a friend, what’s the saying … I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine?”
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