A body massage can relax you, ease muscle stiffness, alleviate body pains and migraines, makes you flexible, improves muscle strength and the list goes on. Body massages have been used since ancient times for therapeutic purposes using just the hands or some very basic tools but now in this technologically charged era, body massages look way different and the tools are cooler than ever.
Introducing, massage guns! These nifty gadgets can be seen all over Instagram, your favorite athletes, celebrities, fitness gurus, everybody is using them. They look like power tools and some can be even as powerful, boasting of a whopping 2500 pulsations a minute. You might’ve seen Kyle Irving of the Brooklyn Nets using a Hand-Held Body Massager all the time. If you watch the 2017 NBA finals again, you’ll see Kyle Irving (then playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers) getting worked on with a massage gun while he was on the sidelines. But are these Electric Body Massager Machines even worth all the hype?
Yes, they are. They are an amazing piece of technology that houses brushless, high torque motors which makes them powerful enough to be as effective as deep tissue massages. Deep tissue massage is the best kind of massage you can hope for, it realigns the deeper layer of muscles and fascia (the connective tissue surrounding the muscles). It works by applying firm pressure and slow strokes. This type of massage is perfect for people suffering from chronic pain or stiffness in the neck, shoulders, or back. A lot of pressure is applied in a deep tissue massage and on concentrated areas to reach the fascia and sub-layer or muscles. This is the only technique that breaks up scar tissue and detangles muscle knots (bands of rigid muscle tissue which are painful) which are the source of the pain and limited range of motion. So, if a portable body massager can pull off a deep tissue massage, then it’s the best thing ever and worth every penny and all the hype surrounding it.
But are these nouveau electric body massager guns good for you?
In short, yes. These massage guns have been thoroughly researched and have undergone rigorous testing, since their invention in 2008 by a Los Angeles based chiropractor, Jason Werseland. Jason made this incredible machine when he started suffering from a herniated disc and back pain after a motorcycle accident.
But like the duality of life from which there is no escape, there are a few downsides to using a Hand-Held Body Massager too. There is a remote risk of receiving an electric shock, however, most modern Deep Muscle Massage Machines are hermetically sealed and highly insulated. The other thing that may happen but only in very rare cases, is an ischemic stroke. These strokes occur after prolonged use of any massager on the neck and the throat. The risk of an ischemic stroke is negligible, just keep in mind that the neck is off-limits. Also read: 5 Relaxation Tips For Your Body And Mind
Now, let’s talk about the benefits of a deep muscle massage machine
Everybody knows that massage is good for that whole list of things mentioned in the very first line of this post. So, let’s talk about the more esoteric benefits of using a Deep Muscle Massage Machine.
- Achieve Mechanotransduction to recover from injuries
Mechanotransduction is a term that basically means, using some type of force to create heat in the muscle and this causes the body to respond by sending an increased flow of blood and nerve stimulation in that area. This response of the body is what prevents the dreaded DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness). Using a Deep Massage Machine can also prevent the deposition of lactic acid, which is another cause of post-workout body aches.
- It can help with Parkinson’s disease
New research in NeuroRehabilitation suggests that vibration therapy might be beneficial for people suffering from Parkinson’s. However, the effects are mostly short term. For instance, it may help in decreasing the frequency of the muscle tremors and help with the rigidity. A lot more research is needed to figure out the long term effects of vibration therapy for Parkinson’s patients, you can read more about this here.
- It can help you perform better in your workouts
Most celebrities are using a massage gun for warming up before workouts. If you have as little time to get jacked as celebrities do, you should think about incorporating a pain massage machine in your workout routine.
If you are still on the fence about buying a hand held body massager, then click here to find out more about them.
Also read: 5 Post-Halloween Couples Massage Tips
