MASSAGE guns aren’t for the faint-hearted, but they’re not just for athletes either – percussive therapy can help heal muscles faster for everyone.
Whether you’re a novice runner or an experienced athlete, massage guns can help provide instant relief to sore muscles and aid your recovery after a hard session or long day.
Massage guns can also be used to target hard-to-reach areas that can be difficult to stretch out – like the lower back or the back of calves.
Plus, they’re great for busy schedules and some devices even promise to deliver the benefits of a 15-minute massage in less than five minutes.
We’ve tried and tested the best massage guns available right now so you don’t have to – everything from the travel-friendly massage guns to those more suitable for your budget.
Best massage guns at a glance:
Theragun Elite
Theragun Elite, £349
Pros: Powerful, long battery life, easy to hold
Cons: Expensive, not suitable for everyone
Rating: 5/5
Theragun is probably the most well-known percussive therapy brand and we were excited to review it. At first, I found the Theragun Elite a little intimidating and powerful – and always used the lowest setting to test it out.
However, when I was experiencing aches and pains after a workout, I found myself reaching for it and now use it pre- and post-exercise or after a long day at work to ease any stresses.
The battery life is excellent, it’s relatively quiet and the shape of the handle means you can reach every area with ease.
I’m not sure if I’d recommend it to everyone without asking them to consult their doctor first as it’s so powerful – but for frequent gym-goers and athletes, it’s definitely one to purchase if you have the cash.
Read our full Theragun Elite review here.
Attachments: 5 different heads, Battery life: 120mins
Theragun Relief
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Theragun Relief, £125
Pros: Lightweight, powerful, ability to change grip, varying intensities, good attachments
Cons: Can be difficult to figure out grip, not compact
Rating: 5/5
Therabody newest Theragun Relief is designed to be a more everyday version of its massage gun, making it one of the most versatile designs for anyone to use.
It’s much lighter than other massage guns and super easy to use with a one-button operation which you press to increase intensity and speed.
The gun has a three-grip design, allowing you to hold it in multiple ways depending on where you’re using it. Admittedly, I used it with the standard grip at first, but once I realised I could use the other handles, it felt much lighter and became easier to target specific muscle groups.
I tested the highest speed on my legs as an activation before going a 5k run and was pleasantly surprised at how easily it relaxed my legs in two minutes.
After my run, I used the lowest power to massage out my quads and calves, and the next day, I could really tell the recovery had worked as I wasn’t sore at all.
It comes with three attachments, a standard ball, a targeted thumb and a large damper – which is especially useful on the lower back.
Overall, if you’re looking for a gun to use after a long day at work, or to help ease your recovery after workouts, this is a great buy as it’s versatile to use on every muscle below the neck and simply, does the job.
Review by Natalie Chui
Attachments: 3 different heads, Battery life: 120 minutes
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Power Plate Mini+
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Power Plate Mini+, £149.95 £119
Pros: Travel-friendly, super lightweight, easy to use
Cons: None
Rating: 5/5
Power Plate is an industry leader when it comes to vibration therapy, and it releases the power of vibration in a mini, gym bag-friendly form.
The Mini+ is short, sweet and simple – it comes with two interchangeable heads, and a travel bag and can be USB charged for on-the-go.
It is super light, so it wouldn’t weigh you down if you needed it on the move and it can be safely controlled with one hand.
I found it really easy to use, too and was really impressed with its manual, too – actually featuring real-life test subjects, so you could safely practice using your gun appropriately.
Power Plate also has an app, if you ever needed help with your therapy – or your workouts.
Attachments: 5 different heads, Battery life: 5 hours
Pulseroll Mighty Mini
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Pulseroll Mighty Mini Massage Gun, £144.99 £113.14
Pros: Travel-friendly size, impressive manual functions
Cons: Can be noisy
Rating: 5/5
One of the more inclusive on the list, this Pulseroll Mighty Mini Massage Gun is travel-friendly and now reduced on Amazon.
Though it may be mini, it is mighty and makes up for its size. It felt noisy at first, but doesn’t take long to get used to – and packs a serious punch on deep muscle soreness after a long run.
Its official suppliers are pretty impressive though, boasting GB Boxing, British Weightlifting and British Fencing sports groups.
Its manual is impressive, too. It is very thorough, detailing muscle groups and how long to focus on each group with each of the four heads and four-speed settings.
Due to its size, it is great for chucking into your running backpack, and for the price, making it a perfect introductory massage gun for both runners and sceptics.
Attachments: 4 different heads with case
Beurer MG 180 Massage Gun
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Beurer MG 180 Massage Gun, £151.66 £103.28
Pros: Multiple attachments, easy to hold, light indicators
Cons: Can be heavy
Rating: 5/5
Beurer MG 180 Massage Gun is a mouthful to say – but its design is very swanky, and simplistic.
Born of German engineering, the swish black, lightweight gun can be used and controlled with one hand – and features cool green LED lighting effects to help you control RPM and battery usage.
While it can be a little heavy for some to hold at just under 1.5kg, it comes with six different massage heads that can be tailored to your regime and recovery needs – and is pretty powerful, without the noise, despite it clocking up 3200RPM.
Attachments: 6 different heads, Battery life: 3 hours
HoMedics Physio Massage Gun
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HoMedics Physio Massage Gun, £129.99
Pros: Budget-friendly, easy to use, lightweight
Cons: Only three attachments
Rating: 4/5
One of the cheaper options on this list, the HoMedics Physio Massage Gun is also one of the simpler options on offer.
Providing the user with three massage gun heads and only three settings, it’s very easy and straight-forward to use pre- and post-exercise, or on fatigued muscles.
It’s lightweight and very simple in design, so would be really handy for a younger, or much older audience – as well as first-timers.
It also comes with a three-year guarantee too, if you change your mind.
Attachments: 3 different heads, Battery life: 60 mins
MyoMaster MyoLite
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MyoLite, £129 £79.99
Pros: Mini size, powerful, multiple speed settings, long battery life
Cons: None
Rating: 5/5
This mini but mighty massage gun is our favourite mini option out of the products we tested.
The MyoLite, claimed to be the world’s most compact massage gun, is both budget and travel-friendly – and could probably fit in a hand or gym bag.
It’s lightweight, but has four-speed settings that crank up to a mighty 3200RPM and, despite its size, it can last up to six hours.
The MyoLite comes with four different heads, and we found them all effective after an achy workout – or even after a long day crunched over our desks.
It comes with a USB charging port, and you can even test it out for three months on a pay-per-month program to see if it is right for you.
Attachments: 4 different heads, Battery life: 6 hours
MyoMaster MyoPro
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MyoPro, £195.02
Pros: Multiple attachments, powerful
Cons: Heavy, needs two hands to control
Rating: 3.5/5
In contrast to the MyoLite, the MyoPro is exactly that – pro, and for pros in our opinion.
The MyoPro massage gun is pretty heavy and comes with its own briefcase if you’re dedicated to your fitness regime and want muscle recovery fast.
The gun requires two hands to control and comes with six heads which are interchangeable to your needs.
We tried the paddle and thumb, which were tricky to control at first – but ended up being so soothing to specific muscle groups.
While we wouldn’t recommend this after a stressful day of home-working, this is made for athletes or more experienced gym go-ers for recovery on the go.
Attachments: 4 different heads, Battery life: 360mins
Shavron Massage Gun
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Shavron Massage Gun, £229.99
Pros: Powerful, wide range of RPM to target different muscles
Cons: Not as easy to use, loud on strong settings
Rating: 4/5
The Shavron Massage Gun requires a two-handed control for more accurate percussive therapy – since it goes up to 3,200 RPM (one of the highest on this list) it can sound like a plane taking off.
But despite its sheer power, it’s quiet and feels therapeutic on softer muscle areas at the lowest 1400RPM setting.
Though the manual gives little information as to which muscle areas to focus on with each of the four interchangeable heads, this massage gun is the perfect gateway accessory for the more experienced gym-goer, or athlete.
Attachments: 4 different heads, Battery life: 6 hours
Where can I buy a massage gun in the UK?
You can buy a massage gun online, directly from a brand or from online retailers like Amazon.
You can also buy a massage gun on the high street at a sports and fitness store, or from your local pharmacy. Here are some of the best places to buy a massage gun.
Are massage guns worth it?
Massage guns offer what is called percussive therapy by delivering short, sharp bursts of energy deep into the body’s muscle tissue.
Percussive therapy offers the benefits of a massage, without the expense or hassle of massaging your muscles through repetitive vibrations and a pulsing or pounding motion.
Research shows that percussive therapy can help stop delayed onset muscle soreness, help your muscles heal faster and speed up recovery time.
And you don’t need to be an athlete to use one, either – anyone from a runner to a home worker can use a massage gun to ease muscle tension and pain, so we would say they’re worth it for the variety.
Do massage guns work?
Massage guns have had a surge of tentative buyers in recent years, with sales and hype increasing – so something must be working.
Whether for banishing onset muscle soreness, recovery after marathon training, or helping to destress after a day spent in front of your laptop, massage guns can help your muscles as much as a pricey massage would.
Massage guns have a wide range of purposes, and features to help target the areas where you need them most – and can be suitable for everyday use, finally relieving those pesky aches and pains.
We have tried and tested the best percussive therapy massage guns on the market right now to suit both your needs and budget.
What is the best massage gun?
The best massage gun depends on your needs, fitness level and budget.
One of our favourite massage guns was the Theragun Relief – but if you are looking for something more affordable or travel-friendly, we would recommend the Pulseroll Mighty Mini – ideal for runners.
If you are a more experienced gym-goer or fitness fanatic, we would recommend the Theragun Elite.
Why should I buy a massage gun?
From working from home neck pain to muscle recovery post intense marathon training, massage guns can help speed up recovery time, delay the onset of muscle soreness and massage out any niggling knots.
Delivering what is known as percussive therapy, research shows that regular use can help to heal muscles, making recovery time faster, and helping you feel more relaxed, recuperating you for your next bout of exercise.
Not a gym bunny? Us neither – mini massage guns can be amazing for those niggling aches and pains in your shoulders, neck, back and thighs when you’re working from home or at your office. Many massage guns are travel-friendly and are ideal for whipping out to relax and soothe achy muscles.
The hype around massage guns isn’t budging, and if you’re finding yourself heaving your aching muscles around, groaning when you hit the sofa in the evening, maybe it’s time you bit the bullet and boarded the hype train. It might actually help deliver some much-needed relaxation and recuperation.
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