When you’ve got an active lifestyle, aches, pains and strains are extremely common. There are many studies that document the use of massage therapy as an effective tool for pain management, but actually finding time (and sometimes the money!) to visit a massage therapist isn’t always easy. Fortunately, there’s now another option. The creation of handheld massage guns enables people to reap all of the same great benefits of traditional massage, but in their comfort of their own home at a time that suits them best.
In this article, we'll cover:
- What is a massage gun and who uses them?
- What to look for in a massage gun?
- Alternatives to Hypervolt
What is a massage gun and who uses them?
Massage guns are handheld devices used to provide a type of massage called percussion therapy. Handheld percussive massage treatment is designed to treat soft tissue pain, and mobility issues that arise as a result of pain and stiffness. The massage gun does this by delivering strong pulses and vibrations deep into the muscle tissue. This helps to stimulate blood flow to the muscles, which helps to counteract inflammation, relieve soreness, improve range of motion and flexibility and accelerate the healing process enabling faster recovery. Percussive therapy can be used on any muscle in the body, but should not be used on bones or joints.
Anyone can benefit from using a massage gun, but there are some types of people who would find it particularly beneficial. These include:
- Amateur and professional athletes
- People who work in a job where they perform repeated movements, such as painters, carpenters and builders.
- People who spend long periods of time sat a computer screen
- Those with poor posture
Your doctor should be able to advise you if using a massage gun may be helpful for you.
What to look for in a massage gun?
With many different massage guns on the market, choosing the right one may feel a little overwhelming. Fortunately, we’ve got the lowdown on what you should consider when buying a massage gun.
Design: although massage guns may share many similarities, it’s important to look at what design features your shortlisted guns have, particularly if you think you’ll end up massaging hard-to-reach areas. Look at where the handles are placed and if there are any extensions available which could maximise the usability of the product.
Weight: the overall weight of your massage gun may make a difference too. This is because you’ll nearly always only use one hand to perform your massage. You should make sure that it is light enough for you to handle without putting your arm under excess pressure.
Power and speed: to make sure that you can use your massage gun exactly as you need to choose a variety that offers a choice of speed and power settings.
Reviews: the best way to get an unbiased view of any product, including a massage gun, is to check out the independent reviews of it online.
Alternatives to Hypervolt
Many people have heard of Hypervolt massage guns, but there are many close competitors that can produce the same results. Let’s take a closer look at these alternatives.
1 - Pulseroll Pro Massage Gun
Founded in 2016, Pulseroll is fast becoming Britain’s leading muscle recovery brand. Pulseroll offers a range of recovery aids, including two vibrational therapy machines – the Pro Gun and Pro Gun mini.
The Pulseroll Pro Gun is a super-quiet, 4 speed massage gun that is perfect to use all over the body, but particularly on the back and shoulders to relieve pain and improve posture.
Key specifications:
Price: £224.99
Weight: 1.1kg
Amplitude: 12mm
Speed levels: 1300 – 3300 RPM
Size: 250mm (H) x 160mm (D) x 60mm (W)
Battery type: 21.6V Lithium-ion (2400mAh)
Battery life: 5 hours (lower speeds) 3 hours (high speeds)
Attachment heads: 6 – large round head, small round head, flat head, pneumatic head, spinal head, bullet head.
Warranty: 12 months
Trustpilot rating: 4.8 / 5 based on 827 reviews
2 – TimTam Power Massager ProÔ
Tim Tam make professional grade therapy products for professional athletes, trainers, therapists and consumers.
The Power Massager ProÔ combines percussion massage with automatic heat infusion to drive heat deep into the muscle tissues and further aid recovery.
Key specifications:
Price: $499.99
Weight: 0.9kg
Amplitude: 12mm
Speed levels: 1000 – 2800 RPM
Size: 200mm (H) x 750mm (D) x 160mm (W)
Battery type: 12v Li-ion rechargeable and whisper quiet gearless motor
Battery life: 60 minutes continuous use
Attachment heads: 3 – heat, vibrate, plain.
Warranty: 90 days
Trustpilot rating: n/a
Cons: The TimTam Power Massager ProÔ is considerably more expensive than other alternatives, and lacks the credibility of Trustpilot reviews.
3 – Compex FIXXÔ 2.0
CompexÒ is a Swiss brand with more than 30 years of expertise in physiotherapy, pain treatment and sports training. They have a huge range of products to their name, including the FixxÒ 2.0 massage gun.
The FixxÒ 2.0 is a lightweight and quiet speed percussion massager that is best effective aiding in the relief of muscles that are sore from exercise or recreational activities.
Key specifications:
Price: £379.99
Weight: 0.31kg
Amplitude: 16mm
Speed levels: 1000 – 3000 RPM
Size:
Battery type: 16v Lithium polymer battery
Battery life: 90 minutes continuous use
Attachment heads: 5 – ball, wedge, cone, cylinder and large ball tip.
Warranty: 2 years
Trustpilot rating: 4.0 / 5 based on 6 reviews
Cons: The FIXXÔ has a fairly short battery life compared to Pulseroll’s Pro Gun.
4 – MuscleGun Carbon
Many people have heard of MuscleGun, another popular brand offering the latest percussive massage therapy. The MuscleGun Carbon is a lightweight, portable massage gun that is easy to take with you, enabling you to get the treatment you need when you need it most.
Key specifications:
Price: £199.99
Weight: 0.98kg
Amplitude: 10mm
Speed levels: 1400 – 3200 RPM
Size: 188 x 62 x 242mm
Battery type: Premium grade rechargeable Lithium-ion
Battery life: 5 hours
Attachment heads: 4 – fork, flat cone, flat dampener, firm ball.
Warranty: 2 years
Trustpilot rating: n/a
Cons: The MuscleGun comes with a fairly basic selection of massage heads when compared to other varieties, and the user guide contains very little information.
4 – Theragun Prime
Theragun Prime is a development from Therabody, the tech wellness company established in 2008. There are a wide range of products in the Therabody range, including the Theragun Prime – a slimline percussion massage device that uses QuietForce technology.
Key specifications:
Price: £275.00
Weight: 1.0kg
Amplitude: 16mm
Speed levels: 1750 – 2400 RPM
Size: 225 x 160 x 73mm
Battery type: 12v Lithium-ion
Battery life: 120 minutes
Attachment heads: 4 – dampener, standard ball, thumb, cone.
Warranty: 1 year limited
Trustpilot rating: 4.1 / 5 based on 984 reviews
Cons: Theragun Prime doesn’t offer the same variety of speed as the Pulseroll equivalent and has fewer attachments.
When it comes to choosing a Hypervolt alternative, our Pro Massage gun and Mini Massage gun offer you the versatility and value you need to treat muscle pain at home. Find out more information about them on our product pages.
