Skip navigation! Last Updated 7March, , pm. All of our picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team, but we may earn commission or other compensation from the links on this page. A massage gun sounds like a contradiction in terms and tbh looks like a threat. To me, at least. The soothing possibilities and relaxation promised by a massage can hardly apply to something which is literally called a 'gun' and sounds like an out-of-control washing machine, right?
Massage guns look like power tools but, crucially, they do not have a drill bit at their head β in its place is a rounded dampener which beats and vibrates against a target area. Depending on what model you get into, you can control how fast and how deep the massaging motion goes; some models come with various attachments promising better targeting or relief.
There are now several massage guns on the market from brands like Therabody, TimTam, Addsfit and Recovapro, to name a few. At first glance, a massage gun seemed like a piece of equipment whose promises of pain relief and faster recovery were too good to be true, and far too intimidating for a wuss like me. To my mind, it fell into the same category as Huel and biohacking: Silicon Valley inventions trying to hack the body through aggressive and rigorous machinery and manipulation instead of flowing with the body's ups and downs.
It felt like a product for people far more dedicated than me to fitness, athleticism and gains. Despite never feeling buff enough to consider myself part of the massage gun's target market, I understand the appeal, especially after a particularly intense workout. Both of these are exhausting my legs in a way I love but which often leaves me too stiff to move. The resulting aches, plus the inevitable pain induced by working from home at a makeshift desk or in twisted postures on my sofa , have made me think of the massage gun a little differently.
And so try it I did. What is a massage gun? Originally massage guns were pitched as pieces of fitness equipment which can alleviate tight, sore and aching muscles after a hard workout.
