In this article, we'll cover:
What are the Benefits of a Massage Gun?
How To Choose The Right Massage Gun
Best Overall Massage Gun of 2022
Best Massage Gun for Beginners
Best Massage Gun for Large Muscles
Best Massage Guns of 2022 - Ranking Table
What is a Massage Gun?
A massage gun is a percussive therapy device, akin in shape to a handheld drill, which uses vibration to target the muscles. Most come with a battery, various head attachments and often a carry case for easy transport.
What are the Benefits of a Massage Gun?
1. Increased Blood Circulation
Massage guns use rapid strokes to stimulate blood flow to the muscles.In turn, this can help to reduce inflammation and muscle tension.
2. Reduced Muscle Pain
By increasing circulation, massage guns are an effective tool in combating muscle pain. According to a study by Konrad et al, they can reduce DOMS and aid muscle recovery.
3. Increased Range of Motion and Flexibility
A 2019 study by Konrad et Al demonstrated that just 5 minutes of percussive massage therapy could increase range of motion (1). This increase in range of motion is important for optimal performance and reduction in the likelihood of injury (2).
4. Injury Prevention
Vibration therapy helps to improve blood flow and range of motion, which in turn, help our bodies to recover more speedily and become less susceptible to injury.
How To Choose The Right Massage Gun
Selecting the right massage gun can be difficult, with so many options and factors to consider outside of pricing, such as speed, amplitude and stall force.
Amplitude
The amplitude of a massage gun refers to the maximum extent of a vibration, measured from the position of equilibrium. Essentially, this is how deep into the affected area the massage gun should be able to reach. As a rule of thumb, the higher the amplitude, the more effective the massage gun will be. You can expect an effective massage gun to boast an amplitude of 12mm to 16mm.
Stall Force
The stall force is the maximum pressure of force that can be applied prior to the motor stalling. A good massage gun should have a stall force of at least 40lb to enable you to use it effectively and with minimal interruptions.
Speed Settings and RPM
A massage gun RPM refers to the revolutions per minute, meaning the amount of times within one minute that the massage gun will hit the target area. Most massage guns offer varying RPMs, which are also referred to as speed settings. There is no one-size fits all when it comes to the optimal speed for you, so it’s best to choose a massage gun with a range of speed settings.
Transportability
Massage guns are available in many different shapes and sizes. As our workouts adapt, and our work-home lifestyles around them, we are likely to require easy access to recovery devices. For that added, portable aspect, you should look for wireless massage guns with a rechargeable battery and a carry case or -bag.
Ease Of Use
Massage guns, on the whole, should be easy to use, and we’d recommend opting for a device with easily accessible buttons or a remote, a comfortable grip, and a visual settings display.
Head Attachments
Having evolved in recent years, your standard massage gun should come with not 1, not 2 or 3, but at least 4 head attachments. Each head attachment serves its own purpose, so generally speaking, the more the merrier. Common massage gun heads include the flat hat, round head and spinal head.
With high-end massage guns sometimes costing upwards of £400, you may be wondering which is right for you. We’ve put together a definitive list of the best massage guns for 2022.
Best Massage Guns Of 2022 - Official Ranking List
At Pulseroll, we care about your physical wellbeing and have created what we believe to be the perfect, affordable massage guns and percussive machines.
Best Overall Massage Gun of 2022: Pulseroll Pro Massage Gun
| Price | Weight | Battery | Heads | Speeds | RPM | Amplitude | Stall Force |
| £224.99 | 1.1kg | Up to 5 hours | 6 | 4 | Up to 3300 | 12 mm | 50lb |
We consider the Pulseroll Pro Massage Gun to be the perfect overall massage gun. It comes in at £224.99 and is backed by professional athletes and teams such as Athony Joshua and GB Weightlifting.
With a 12mm amplitude and a stall force of 50lb, the Pro Massage Gun is great for removing knots. It boasts 4 speeds, starting at 1300 RPM for beginners, and reaching 3300 RPM in its ultra high power mode. The battery will last up to 5 hours on the lower speed setting and 3 hours on the higher settings. Both speed- and battery levels are indicated at the top of the handle.
The Pro Massage Gun comes with 6 heads, so you can really tailor the device to your own, individual needs Amongst these are the pneumatic head, which offers a soft-tissue, full-body massage, the spinal head for spinal massages, and the bullet head for pain point management.
With a rechargeable battery, carry case, and product weight of just 1kg, the Pulseroll Pro Massage Gun is also ideal for recovery on-the-go. Take it with you to the gym, office or your home and cut the cost of physio visits.
Pros
- The long handle is great for harder-to-reach pain spots and knots
- Simple, button control for easy use
- 6 attachment heads
- 4 speed settings
Cons
- Larger in size than other massage guns.
This is something Pulseroll have remedied with their Mini Massage Gun, which is available in red/black or white.
|
Pro Massage Gun |
Mini Massage Gun |
|
250mm x 160mm x 60mm |
140mm x 100mm x 40mm |
What the Reviews Say
- The gun was very well built and aided recovery and relaxation. - GolfMagic
- The massage gun’s longer handle helped the tester to comfortably massage all muscles and the device was easy to use. - Women’s Health.
- Pulseroll started out with a vibrational foam roller and entered the market for handheld massagers much later, but can definitely compete with more popular brands. - Percussion Massage
Best Affordable Massage Gun: RenPho Deep Tissue Massager
| Price | Weight | Battery | Heads | Speeds | RPM | Amplitude |
| £36.99 | 816 g | 140 minutes | 5 | 3 | Up to 3600 | 10mm |
The RenPho Deep Tissue Massager is a budget-friendly handheld massager, which can be used on muscles and areas such as the feet, calf, shoulders, neck, back, arms, and legs.
It operates at speeds of up to 3600 rpm, with an amplitude of 10mm. Its cordless design makes the massager easy to use, and it features an auto-stop function after 20 minutes of use to prevent the device from overheating.
Pros
- Lightweight (0.8kg)
- Low-cost, at £36.99
- 5 head attachments
- Attachments are made of plastic, rather than rubber
- Lower amplitude than most massage guns on the market
Best Premium Massage Gun: Theragun PRO
| Price | Weight | Battery | Heads | Speeds | RPM | Amplitude | Stall Force |
| £549 | 1.3 kg | Up to 5 hours | 6 | 5 | Up to 3300 | 16 mm | 60 lb |
The Theragun PRO is part of Therabody’s 4th Generation range. This high-end massage gun boasts an amplitude of 16mm and stall force of 60lb. This massage gun has been developed with a custom motor for even quieter performance.
Pros
- QuietForce brushless motor makes gen4 55% quieter than its predecessor.
- 2 Batteries, each with up to 5 hours of use
- Triangular handle for convenient use
- Instructional app
Cons
- Costly purchase, at £549
- 2400 rpm max speed
- Still comparatively louder than other brands of massage gun
Best Massage Gun for Beginners: Recovapro Lite Mini
| Price | Weight | Battery | Heads | Speeds | RPM | Amplitude | Stall Force |
| £259 | 700 g | Up to 3 hours | 4 | 5 | Up to 2700 | 12 mm | 40 lb |
The Recovapro Lite Mini, whilst small, packs a powerful punch. It weighs only 700g, but, as with most massage guns, has an amplitude of 12mm. The 90-day trial period makes this device a great choice for beginners.
Pros
- Lightweight at 700g
- 90 day trial period
- Up to 180 minutes use per charge
Cons
- Only 4 attachment heads
- Lower stall force than most massage guns
- Great for everyday pains, but not as well-suited for athletic performance
Best Portable Massage Gun: MyoLite
| Price | Weight | Battery | Heads | Speeds | RPM | Stall Force |
| £199 | 700 g | Up to 6 hours | 4 | 5 | Up to 3200 | 40 lb |
MYO Master’s MyoLite massage gun is small in size and weighs only 700g, making it easy to carry with you out and about. It has 5 speed settings and the battery lasts up to 6 hours, but comes with only 4 attachment heads. Whilst it’s great for on the go, it’s not quite as suitable for as wide a range of users as other massage guns.
Pros
- Lightweight (only 700g)
- Portable (about the size of a phone)
- 40% quieter than average massagers
- Up to 6 hours of battery
Cons
- Only 4 massage head attachments
- 2 additional attachments are available at an extra charge
Best Massage Gun for Large Muscles: Hydragun
| Price | Weight | Battery | Heads | Speeds | RPM | Amplitude | Stall Force |
| £469 | 1 kg | Up to 6 hous | 7 | 6 | Up to 3200 | 12 mm | 40 lb |
With 7 attachment heads, the Hydragun is a good choice for larger muscles. The ball head and steel round head are suited to larger muscle groups such as the glutes and calves. The curved head is well-suited to muscle groups such as the forearms and biceps, and the steel heads are great for a firmer massage.
Pros
- 6 hour battery life
- 7 attachment heads
- Lightweight
Cons
- High price, at £469
- 40 lb stall force, which is lower than a number of industry leaders
If you’re looking for a massage device to specifically target larger muscle groups, we’d recommend the Vibrating Foam Roller.
Foam rollers are ideal for targeting large muscles, and the added percussive technology in the Pulseroll Vibrating Foam Roller offers variable intensity settings so you can cater to your individual needs.The vibrating roller does all of the work for you, so you can relax and allow the he vibration to penetrate the muscle for enhanced recovery.
Best Massage Gun for Power: Recovapro SE
| Price | Weight | Battery | Heads | Speeds | RPM | Amplitude | Stall Force |
| £229 | 1.1 kg | Up to 4 hours | 5 | 5 | Up to 3300 | 14 mm | 60 lb |
The Recovapro SE is at the top of the line when it comes to power. With a stall force of 60 lb and amplitude of 14 mm, you can go to town on your muscle recovery without worrying about it cutting out.
Pros
- 14 mm amplitude
- 60 lb stall force
Cons
- 4 hour battery life, which is lower than most competitors
- No carry case, unlike most competitor products
Best Massage Guns of 2022 - Ranking Table
| Massage Gun | Best | Price | Weight | Battery | Heads | Speeds | Max. RPM | Amplitude | Stall Force | Carry Case |
| Pulseroll Pro Massage Gun | Overall | £224.99 | 1.1 kg | 5 hours | 6 | 4 | 3300 | 12mm | 50 lb | Yes |
| RenPho Deep Tissue Massager | Affordable | £36.99 | 816 g | 2 hours 20 minutes | 5 | 3 | 3600 | 10 mm | - | No |
| Theragun Pro | Premium | £549 | 1.3 kg | 5 hours | 6 | 5 | 3300 | 16 mm | 60 lb | Yes |
| Recovapro Lite Mini | Beginners | £259 | 700 g | 3 hours | 4 | 5 | 2700 | 12 mm | 40 lb | Yes |
| MYO Master MyoLite | Portable | £199 | 700g | 6 hours | 4 | 5 | 3200 | - | 40 lb | Yes |
| Hydragun | Large Muscles | £469 | 1 kg | 6 hours | 7 | 6 | 3200 | 12 mm | 40 lb | Yes |
| Recovapro SE | Power | £229 | 1.1 kg | 4 hours | 5 | 5 | 3300 | 14 mm | 60 lb | No |
Summary
Recovery doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. The Pulseroll Pro Massage Gun stacks up against the competition, with an amplitude of 12 mm, stall force of 50 lb and max RPM of 3300, all for a competitive price compared to other known brands.
It’s lightweight at just 1.1 kg and comes with a convenient carry case and optional shoulder strap, which houses the massage gun as well as all of its attachments, making our Pro Massage Gun super convenient to take with you on the go.
If you’re looking for something a little lighter, you can try our Mini Massage Gun, now available in two colours.
For quality without compromising on the specs or your wallet, trust the UK’s number one brand and try one of our Pulseroll Massage Guns.
References:
1 - Konrad, A., Glashuttner, C., Reiner, M., Bernsteiner, D., & Tilp, M. (2020). The acute effects of a percussive massage treatment with a hyperbole device on plantar flexor muscles’ range of motion and performance. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 690-694.
2 - Konrad, A., Glashuttner, C., Reiner, M., Bernsteiner, D., & Tilp, M. (2020). The acute effects of a percussive massage treatment with a hyperbole device on plantar flexor muscles’ range of motion and performance. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 690-694.
