Therabody: Massage gun improves sleep, eases muscle pain and boosts recovery

Thousands are swapping pricey physio and chiropractor appointments for a ‘miracle’ range of massage guns that guide you through treatments from your own living room.

Using the benefits of deep percussive therapy, the celebrity beloved Therabody Theraguns may be pricey ($199 – $599) but are effective in treating a range of ailments from sleep troubles to muscle pain and cramping. 

Available globally, the guns are a staple for thousands in all kinds of environments – from locker rooms to the side of a swimming pool, yoga mat, courtside and your own couch.

Thousands are swapping pricey physio and chiropractor appointments for a ‘miracle’ range of massage guns that guide you through treatments from your own living room (pictured supermodel Karlie Kloss)

Using the benefits of deep percussive therapy, the celebrity beloved Therabody Theraguns may be pricey ( $199 - $599 ) but are effective in treating a range of ailments from sleep troubles to muscle pain and cramping

Using the benefits of deep percussive therapy, the celebrity beloved Therabody Theraguns may be pricey ( $199 – $599 ) but are effective in treating a range of ailments from sleep troubles to muscle pain and cramping

They’re also used by more than 250 professional sports teams worldwide, physical therapists, trainers, chiropractors, celebrities, athletes, and everyday people in over 50 countries. 

The gadgets are touted by the likes of Karlie Kloss, Cristiano Ronaldo, Maria Sharapova, Ally Love and Paul George; in Australia, AFL superstar Nat Fyfe has been using it for years while playing football.

Most notably they connect to the Therabody app which has customised wellness treatments and guides you through routines designed for specific ailments.

Speaking to FEMAIL, Dr. Jason Wersland, the Founder and Chief Wellness Officer of Therabody, said percussive therapy is a miracle worker when it comes to preventing body aches, reducing muscle tension, increasing mobility and range of motion, increasing blood flow and assisting with accelerating the repair and growth of tissues.

Available globally, the guns are a staple for thousands in all kinds of environments - from locker rooms to the side of a swimming pool, yoga mat, courtside and your own couch

Available globally, the guns are a staple for thousands in all kinds of environments – from locker rooms to the side of a swimming pool, yoga mat, courtside and your own couch

How does the Theragun work to reduce muscle aches?

The up-and-down motion that the Theragun makes is called a percussive motion. 

That motion along with the specifically calibrated frequency and amplitude moves on and off the body having a positive effect on the body, nerves, and body tissue to ease muscle tension and aches. They literally put recovery and tension relief in the hands of those who use it.

You should also use the Theragun to warm-up. 

Use it 30 seconds per muscle group before activity to help increase mobility, muscle coordination, and body awareness. 

Use it pre, post, and even during exercise in short bursts. It’ll help fast track your warm-ups and recovery, flushing out lactic acid and hydrating your muscles, acting to decrease post exercise muscle soreness

‘Percussive therapy communicates with your nervous system using pressure,’ he said. 

‘When you use Theragun for two to eight minutes on your body you actually turn off your stress switch and turn on your relax switch aka the rest-and-digest (parasympathetic) part of our nervous system allows you to de-stress, relax, heal, recover, sleep, and rebuild your body. 

‘This is so important because your ability to deal with the next challenge depends on the quality of your rest and recovery.’

They're also used by more than 250 professional sports teams worldwide, physical therapists, trainers, chiropractors, celebrities, athletes, and everyday people in over 50 countries

They’re also used by more than 250 professional sports teams worldwide, physical therapists, trainers, chiropractors, celebrities, athletes, and everyday people in over 50 countries

How massage guns work to banish muscle knots  

Also known as trigger points, knots are hard, sensitive areas of muscles that are tight and contracted – even when you’re resting. Caused by a variety of things, they most commonly are from exercising a specific muscle group too much, sitting around doing too little, or from having bad posture in general. 

To get rid of these uncomfortable knots, you need to break up the knotted tissue and increase blood flow to that area. 

After gently sweeping the Theragun along your muscle for one minute, spend a little extra time on the knotted area and the powerful deep-reaching massage will do the work.

The trigger points are targeted which increases blood flow and alleviates the agonising knots. 

When you use Theragun for two to eight minutes on your body you actually turn off your stress switch and turn on your relax switch aka the rest-and-digest (parasympathetic) part of our nervous system allows you to de-stress, relax, heal, recover, sleep, and rebuild your body

When you use Theragun for two to eight minutes on your body you actually turn off your stress switch and turn on your relax switch aka the rest-and-digest (parasympathetic) part of our nervous system allows you to de-stress, relax, heal, recover, sleep, and rebuild your body

While there are many cheaper massage gun copies on the market, Dr Wersland insists they simply don’t compare.

‘It’s important for people to know there’s a difference between vibration and percussion. The body responds differently to each,’ he said.

‘Theragun pioneered percussive therapy which is a deeper, more effective mode of recovery and body activation. Our unique combination of amplitude, frequency and terque makes the Theragun more effective at improving movement and aiding in recovery than any other device available.’

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