What’s the deal with a percussion massage gun like the “theragun” or “Hypervolt?”

Do these things really work?

A quality Percussion massage gun is an easy way to loosen muscles, reduce muscle and other soft tissue inflammation, and loosen connective tissue (fascia). Various activities, sports, and previous injuries may lead to soft tissue and fascia damage that is impacted very positively by percussive massage.

By reducing tension, inflammation, and adhesions, rang of motion and flexibility are also positively affected. All of these combined, reduce pain, recuse soreness, and reduce stiffness.

In addition to those effects, vibration of this type may help your metabolism, may help release trigger points (knots), and improve blood flow. Occasionally, people will feel sore, see redness or mild bruising afterward, but those are the few more common, albeit unusual side effects.

So what Diagnoses are helped with a percussion or vibrational massage gun?

Arthritis pain
Back pain
Soft tissue injuries like ligaments, tendons, or muscles
Sprains and strains
Post surgical tension, soreness and scarring
Minor trauma to muscles.

Some conditions develop over a long period of time, like arthritis, or with repetitive stress on the joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons and nerves of the body. Some of those types of injuries that may be helped with vibrational massage are:

Carpal tunnel syndrome
Cubital tunnel syndrome
Tennis elbow
Golfers elbow
Tendonitis
Myofascial pain syndromes like fibromyalgia
Nerve entrapment
Thoracic outlet syndrome
Shin splints
Plantar fasciitis
Rotator cuff injuries or restriction
Bursitis

Preventively and proactively, percussion massage:

Improves muscular strength, power development and kinesthetic awareness
Reduces Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS)
**DOMS or soreness after working out, is a common excuse for skipping workouts, and can derail several days, or even lifelong consistency of workouts.

As a side note, in our practice, we use a hypervolt percussion massager often. It has yielded results that no other type of soft tissue work has achieved. While this is not always the case, it is clear that in certain situations it has special powers. In my opinion, not only are they worth the money, but they are an important tool for any athlete, laborer, or person who becomes sore with physical activity. Gardeners, musicians, masons, carpenters, travelers, chefs and the like. While research is sparse on these machines, we know what massage is capable of, we know how soft tissue works and responds to pressure, vibration and manual therapy. We also see direct improvements in our patients, regardless of peer reviewed journal outcomes.

~Dr. Lou

Do we really need research to show that parachutes save lives? READ THIS.

Dr. Lou Jacobs is the owner of Jacobs Chiropractic Acupuncture Center in Portland, Maine since opening the office in 2003. Together with his associate doctor, Dr. Aaron Vela, they are currently accepting responsible new patients of all ages.

(207) 774-6251