It’s pretty easy to become obsessed with going to the gym. Like any physical activity or sports interest, once you get into the habit, you tend to feel worse if you don’t. Since we were able to say goodbye to the lockdowns, life at my local gym has more or less returned to normal and it’s great to be back.
While the gym was closed, I went back to running. I finally got a really decent pair of the best running shoes and hit the road. I started with 5k and in the end I got to about 10k a day. The downside was that running reminded me why I joined a gym all those years ago.
Running affects my knees and also causes other aches and pains. It’s the main reason I started using some of the best massage guns on the market, one of which has proven to be a great help in relieving some of the muscle aches I had from hitting sidewalks. And, now that I’m back in the gym, a massage gun is also proving to be very useful post-workout.
Starting
Reviewing massage guns for TechRadar has helped me get a great idea of what I want from one of these portable units. I have also been able to try many different variations on the theme. One thing I discovered after having experienced a variety of different massage heads is just how versatile these devices can be.
the theragun first it’s my current favourite. It’s a quality piece of kit, but I’ve also been very impressed with the accompanying app. If you create an account, they can help you with personalized massage sessions, tailored to your needs. There are also great tutorials for anyone just starting out who isn’t sure which head to use, how long to massage, and whatnot.
Depending on how much you spend, you will get a selection of different massage heads, such as a fork head, a large and small ball, a bullet head, and maybe an air cushion head like my Theragun model. If you only have basic needs, then an entry-level massage gun should tick most of the boxes, but spend a little more and you should get the full set of heads. That means your massage gun can be used in many more ways and on different problem areas.
two days in
One valuable tip I’ve learned over time is that if you can enlist the help of a family member or friend, it’s a good idea to make massage gun sessions a team effort. Many locations on your own body can be difficult to reach. Or, you may be able to reach them, but not at the right angle or at the right level of massage intensity. Another person addressing the same area could produce a much more effective result. It’s worth a try.
Recently, for this feature, I have been using Theragun Prime, along with the app guides consistently for a week. More specifically, I have been using the Workout Recovery program. This lasts eight minutes, covers the entire body, and uses a standard ball and shock absorber. Start with the right glute, then the left, moving to the right lower back, left lower back, and so on, with stretches in between. Doing it with the help of the app makes me feel much more confident in how I am doing the massage and more importantly that I am doing it right.
four days in
I am really starting to delve into the positive benefits of the Theragun app. Having discovered even more dedicated massage routines, including a great one for the lower body that is ideally suited to an hour of mayhem on the cross-trainer, I find it a great help. In fact, I’d say the biggest thing I’ve learned this week is to either make sure you have a massage gun with proper guidance on how to use it, or check with someone who has experience with them for some top tips. .
What’s even better with this arrangement is that you can customize the settings to suit you. Once you have created an account, the app allows you to create a preferred list of massage options. It’s also easy to keep track of exactly what you’re doing, so you don’t overdo it. I think having the app working in conjunction with the massage gun is really the best thing about this unscientific experiment to date.
seven days in
Keeping track of my week using a massage gun after gym sessions has been very enlightening. It has certainly convinced me that regular massage gun therapy can be beneficial and that goes for anyone doing occasional workouts or daily exercise sessions. I find that if I overdo it, my muscles start to feel tired, especially my legs due to my penchant for cross trainer.
The good thing about having a massage gun on hand is that sessions don’t have to be long either. I’ve found that five to ten minutes working on problem areas can really help melt knotted muscles or those dull aches you get from repetitive training time. Again, the app is perfect for helping you keep track of time and the step-by-step massage sessions allow you to work methodically and keep from overdoing it.
Monitoring the use of my massage gun for a week has also highlighted how I need to make sure I don’t overdo it too much on the exercise front. A massage gun can be a useful tool, but you should also moderate your workouts with a few days off. As I discovered, tracking your activity makes you realize how good it can be to alternate your exercise routine.
So some days it will be just the cross-trainer and other days some weights. Variety is the spice of life, right?
key gains
- My muscles feel much more ready for the next training session, especially when I use an accompanying app.
- Muscle massage and careful monitoring have helped me manage my exercise routines more effectively.
- Using a massage gun post-workout is a great no-calorie, low-stress way to unwind when you’re done at the gym.
