You Probably Don’t Need That $600 Massage Gun
They promise benefits such as increased blood circulation, injury prevention, and pain relief. But experts are skeptical.
During the 2017 NBA finals, Cleveland Cavaliers star Kyrie Irving spent his time on the sidelines getting worked on with a strange-looking, jiggle-inducing massage gun.
Technically called a percussive therapy device, the gadget, which can cost $600 and up, looks a little like a power drill with different foam heads that you attach where the drill would go. The head oscillates back and forth, imparting a vibratory force into the skin, muscle tissue, tendons, ligaments, and fascia, making muscles ripple like waves, which not only is entertaining but also feels great, as users can attest. The promised benefits include increased blood circulation, injury prevention, and pain relief.
Star-athlete power like Irving’s and the growing interest in workout recovery have made percussive therapy devices the fitness tool du jour. “The craze over recovery has taken over the fitness and sports industries over the last 10 years,” says physical therapist Keats Snideman. “So, while these percussive therapy devices have been around a long time, with all the foam rollers and other self-massage tools out there, people are looking for…
