One of the biggest challenges of belly fat is that it’s particularly stubborn and doesn’t respond easily to diet and exercise. In fact, even if you reach a weight that you’re comfortable with, you may find yourself left with a slightly wobbly abdomen that leaves you feeling self-conscious or even embarrassed about your appearance – in or out of clothes.
Exercise can help tone the abdominal area, but sometimes it doesn’t matter how many crunches or twists you do, belly fat remains. So, what can you do?
One option is to use a massage gun to reduce your belly fat.
In this article, we'll cover:
- How does a massage gun work?
- Effects of percussion massage on weight loss
- How to use a massage gun for fat loss
- Is it safe to use a massage gun on my stomach?
- Techniques for using a massage gun on your stomach
- How often should I use a massage gun on my stomach?
How does a massage gun work?
Also sometimes known as percussion massagers, massage guns are handheld devices that work by applying rapid and repetitive bursts of pressure to muscles in a swift up-and-down motion, in a manner similar to a jackhammer. This creates a vibration deep within the body that has many different therapeutic effects. These include stimulating blood flow, accelerating the healing process, reducing muscle tension and improving muscle recovery.
Massage guns are best known for targeting muscles and connective tissues, but they can also be used on areas of soft tissue that are predominantly formed of fat. In this way, they can be a successful treatment technique for fat- and weight loss.
Effects of percussion massage on weight loss
Percussion massage can help you to lose weight. This is because massage increases the circulation in the area being targeted by your massage gun. When this happens, the blood brings extra oxygen and nutrients to the muscle cells, helping them to burn calories more efficiently. A faster metabolism is one of the most important factors in any successful weight loss program. The extra energy and nutrition also accelerate energy production, enabling you to workout harder, faster and burn more calories, which will ultimately support your weight loss program.
Massage also helps to improve the efficiency of the lymphatic drainage system, which is responsible for removing toxins from your body – something which can also aid weight loss1. With fewer toxins to deal with, your body is less likely to hold onto fat which could otherwise impede your weight loss efforts and mean that you retain excess abdominal fat. Instead, you have to work less hard to break down and eliminate subcutaneous fat from your body.
Not only can percussion massage help you to lose weight and maintain a lower, healthier weight, but it can also improve your muscle tone and balance so that your body appears tighter, more toned, healthier and slimmer. This is partly because the vibrations it causes can trigger increased production of collagen and elastin – two key building blocks for healthy, strong and smooth skin2.
However, while a massage gun can help support a weight loss program, using it alone won’t provide the results that you’re looking for. Instead, we recommend that you use your massage gun alongside the implementation of a healthy, balanced diet and regularly exercise in order for you to achieve optimal weight loss results.
How to use a massage gun for fat loss
Using a massage gun for fat loss isn’t too dissimilar to other techniques. The main difference is that you shouldn’t apply as much pressure as you would if you were using a massage gun on muscles. The reason for this is that fat is a lot less dense than muscle and if you use too much pressure, you could end up causing yourself unnecessary pain or even damage to your body.
When using a massage gun for fat loss, we recommend that you use a round massage head attachment, which is softer and suitable for large areas. Alternatively, you could consider a flat massage head, which offers evenly dispersed pressure across the target. Check the speed of your massage gun before you apply it to the area to make sure that you will be comfortable once treatment begins.
Is it safe to use a massage gun on my stomach?
Yes, in the majority of circumstances it’s safe to use a massage gun on your stomach. However, it’s not recommended for women who are pregnant, or for anyone who has an abdominal hernia, digestive condition or ongoing issue with any major organ. If you aren’t sure if you should use a massage gun on your stomach, we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor before beginning. You should also speak to your doctor first if you suffer from conditions such as arthritis, fibromyalgia or osteoporosis.
Techniques for using a massage gun on your stomach
We recommend that you turn your massage gun on before you place it on your body. This will enable you to adjust the pressure with which you apply it, helping you to avoid any sudden jolts. Start on the lowest speed and increase slowly until you find a speed and pressure that you’re comfortable with. Bear in mind that using a massage gun may feel a little uncomfortable, but it shouldn’t be painful. If you experience pain, you should stop immediately.
When using a massage gun on belly fat, only light to moderate pressure is needed. You should work methodically across the area, letting the gun movements guide your hand so that it floats across the stomach naturally. Try not to tense your muscles as this will work against the treatment, which is designed to help relax them as well as to reduce your belly fat. It’s normal to feel a little tender afterwards, with many people comparing the sensation to having completed a rigorous stomach workout.
How often should I use a massage gun on my stomach?
There are no rules as to how often you can use a massage gun on your stomach, and there’s nothing to stop you performing the technique daily if you want to – provided that you don’t experience any unpleasant side effects such as significant soreness or bruising.
If you’re frustrated with stubborn belly fat that isn’t responding well to diet and exercise alone, regular stomach massages with a Pulseroll massage gun could provide the additional boost you need to achieve a sleek, toned abdomen. Our Pro Massage gun and Mini Massage gun are ideal for targeting the belly area, delivering highly effective percussion massage to encourage efficient fat loss.
Reference list
1 - Brennan, D. (2021). What Is Lymph Drainage Massage? [online] WebMD. Available at: https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/what-is-lymph-drainage-massage.
2 - Caberlotto, E., Ruiz, L., Miller, Z., Poletti, M. and Tadlock, L. (2017). Effects of a skin-massaging device on the ex-vivo expression of human dermis proteins and in-vivo facial wrinkles. PLoS ONE, [online] 12(3), p.e0172624. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5383004/.
