Log onto Facebook or Instagram and — if you’re at all invested in the fitness industry — you’ll likely see at least one post of a beautiful, sculpted human battering their muscles with a high-tech device. The video is in slow motion, of course, because it must be seen in action. The caption is something about how their beloved massage gun preps them for games, keeps them going during bodybuilding stage season, or maximizes their recovery time between CrossFit competitions.

We think it’s great that athletes of all sports are utilizing percussive therapy as a recovery and priming tool and touting the benefits to others. In fact, we love working with athletes to help them up the ante on their performance. However, when the average person sees athlete after athlete using massage guns, the message might become murky.

Can “normal” people use percussive massage guns? Are there any benefits for people who just go to the gym a few times a week?

Yes and yes! You can benefit from percussive therapy even if you only use exercise as a means to support your health — even if you don’t really care about maxing out your deadlift or increasing your vertical jump.

Need proof? Here are five ways percussive therapy helps the everyday exerciser.  

If you work out in any capacity, there’s a good chance you get sore sometimes (or a lot of times). Research on percussive therapy is still relatively new, but more and more studies continue to conclude that percussion devices are just as effective as going to get a massage. Other research has determined that massage, or soft-tissue manipulation, is the best way to reduce post-workout muscle soreness. Since percussive therapy is a type of soft-tissue manipulation, it’s likely one of the best methods, too.  

Feeling a bit tight and stiff? Massage therapy is known to improve mobility and flexibility, due largely to the increase in blood flow that comes along with a good massage. The only difference between massage and percussive therapy in this instance is that you can bring percussive therapy with you anywhere. 

We’ve covered before how percussive therapy is a hidden gem for better sleep. If sore muscles and stress prevent you from getting the deep, restorative sleep you need, a massage gun might be your ticket to that much-needed restful state. 

Having trouble getting to sleep and staying asleep?  Percussive therapy might be a viable solution.

Many exercisers struggle with general pain in addition to muscle soreness. Although the two overlap, it’s sometimes tough to tell where the heck that achy sensation came from. The good news is that percussive therapy can help with general pain just like it can help with post-workout soreness, particularly lower back pain. 

Okay, if you are concerned with your athletic performance, percussive therapy can help in that arena, too. One study concluded that vibration massage “improves muscular strength, power development, kinesthetic awareness” and “could represent an effective exercise intervention for enhancing neuromuscular performance in athletes.”

If you’re still not convinced that a percussion massage gun is a must-have tool for everyday exercisers — not just athletes — take it from our customers themselves. 

This article is for educational and informational purposes only, and is not intended for use as medical or health advice. For any and all health concerns or conditions, please talk to your doctor.  

Written by Ekrin Athletics Staff