Deep tissue massage guns can be effective for a wide range of conditions and treatments, but there are limitations in their usefulness. Talking to your doctor is the best way to feel confident that you are using the gun appropriately. That said, here are some points about when to use and when not to use a massage gun.
What Is A Deep Tissue Massage Gun Good For?
In order to understand when a deep tissue massage gun isn’t a good idea, it’s helpful to have a thorough concept of when it is useful. Here are the times when a deep-tissue massage gun like a percussive gun can be very helpful.
Soreness
A deep tissue massage gun is designed to break up lactic acid that contributes to soreness. Using the gun after exercise enables the acid to leave your muscles more quickly, which means that muscles feel better quicker. The relaxation offered by deep massage also helps to relieve pain from stiff muscles.
Stiffness
Stiff muscles before a workout may make it more likely that you’ll injure yourself. Stiffness after a workout is uncomfortable. A deep tissue massage can loosen muscles before a workout or game to keep muscles limber and less prone to tearing. Relieving stiffness after an intense workout lets you get on with your life pain-free.
Relieve Pain
Regular deep tissue massage offers pain relief to some conditions that result in chronic pain, like fibromyalgia. By overriding pain signals to your brain, percussion therapy can help patients to manage chronic pain.
When To Use Caution Employing A Massage Gun
Percussion therapy can be useful for people suffering from a wide range of conditions, but sometimes they should only be used with the supervision of a doctor and sometimes they shouldn’t be used at all.
Muscle Strains And Sprains
Muscle strains, or pulled muscles, occur when muscles are stretched past their normal range of motion. This can heppen because of using muscles too much or improperly or sudden motions that tear muscles.
Sprains occur when a ligament is stretched or torn. This can often happen in combination with a strain. Sometimes there is a popping sound when a sprain occurs.
Muscle strains and sprains are generally quite painful, so you probably won’t want to use your percussion massage gun on a fresh sprain. If you do feel tempted, its best not to think about using your gun on the sprain for some time. Fresh sprains and strains should be treated with rest, ice, compression, and elevation.
Massaging the area around using your hands and gentle pressure can help blood flow, but avoid using a gun. Once your injury begins to heal, your doctor may recommend that you begin using your percussive therapy gun again. Gentle massage can help breakdown scar tissue and enable healing.
Injuries Due To Inflammation
Inflammation does not benefit from percussion or any kind of deep-tissue massage. If you have any of the following conditions, don’t consider using a massage gun.
- Tendinitis
- Fasciitis
- Bursitis
- Periostitis
Chronic Conditions
Massage guns shouldn’t be used with certain conditions, either because of the nature of the disease or because the disease causes impaired sensation.
- Hypertension
- Osteoporosis
- Very serious varicose veins
- Muscle disorders and muscular dystrophy
- Autoimmune conditions like multiple sclerosis, lupus, or scleroderma
- Any condition affecting the blood vessels, like peripheral artery disease, atherosclerosis, deep vein thrombosis, or arteriosclerosis
- Rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, gout, or osteoarthritis
Broken Bones
No force should ever be applied to broken bones, even when they are well-healed. Very gentle massage can be used around the area, but pressure shouldn’t be applied on the broken bones at any point.
Using A Massage Gun With Injuries Or Medical Conditions
If you have one of these conditions or another condition that you believe may be negatively affected by massage therapy, talk to your doctor beore using a deep tissue massage gun.