Posted by One of the most important yet overlooked workout at-home accessory is the massage gun, a percussive therapy device, which enhances recovery after intense workout exercise. Percussive therapy helps the muscles recover faster while reducing muscle fatigue, muscle pain and lactic acid build-up in the muscles.
With several choices of massage guns in the market, what can a buyer look for when deciding which percussion massaging equipment or brand is suited to his or her particular need?
Here are a few things to consider before making a purchase:
- Type of motion: Although some individuals use percussion and vibration words interchangeably, it is important to state that percussion and vibration are very different. When shopping for a massage gun, consider which mechanism is more suited to your needs.
- Power and Speed: Considered by many as the most important criteria for selection since individual massage preferences and pain tolerance levels differ. It is therefore advisable that users purchase dual or multi-settings massage guns.
- Battery life: The longer the battery life, the longer the massage period of the gun.
- Portability: Though most are truly handheld massagers, some products are rather bulky and heavy. If you intend to travel with your massage gun, you should get a unit that easily fits into a bag or suitcase, or one that comes with its own carrying case.
- Attachments and accessories: Different body parts use different attachments and accessories, so users are advised to consider which part of the body they intend to use the massage gun on before purchase. Specific areas and trigger points, such as the arch of the foot or the neck, would benefit from smaller attachments intended for those specific areas.
- Cost: Certainly, your budget will determine the type and brand of therapeutic massage device you can purchase. The most expensive massage guns usually offer more adjustable power, speed, motion settings amongst other peeks, but less expensive models can also be as effective.
Theragun Gun Product Range
Thinking of getting a massage gun, consider the Theragun massage gun range of products, arguably one of the most popular brands of massage guns available in today’s market, majorly because of their sleek designs and the high quality of the products. The Theragun’s unique triangular shape stands it out from competitors’ designs, which oftentimes appear like the speed radar guns used by policemen or a DIY nail gun.
One major beauty of the Theragun range of products is its versatility, which means there are distinct variants of the Theragun massage gun to meet specific and individual needs. These products include:
- Theragun Mini
- Theragun Prime
- Theragun Elite
- Theragun Pro
Each product sure has its own benefits and downside, so it is important to note the differences between the devices, such as power, speed and other factors including ease of use and noise generated.
We will shortly examine these products in more detail after answering some frequently asked questions about Theraguns.
Selected Frequently Asked Questions About Theraguns
Is the Theragun made in China?
The answer is NO. Designed and manufactured in Colorado, USA, the Theragun began as a DIY power tool that Dr. Jason Wersland designed to help relieve his pain by delivering vibrations to deep tissue. That early contraption inspired what grew into the Theragun. The Theragun is a handheld, power-driven device that uses percussive therapy to deliver quick-fire blows (2,400 per minute), to muscles from intense exercise or any other activity.
Can the Theragun cause damage/Is Theragun good for sciatica?
Theragun can help sciatica by releasing tension and increasing blood flow. The percussive motion of the Theragun actually relieves the muscles around the sciatic nerve and helps diffuse the pressure on the nerve.
Warning: All percussive therapy massage guns can inflict injury and tear up scar tissues; the Theragun is no exception. The powerful hammering motion of percussion therapy can further damage your muscles. It is unnecessary to use the Theragun for more than two minutes at a time on one group of muscle.
Is the Theragun worth the hype?
The Therabody massage gun products exhibit sleekness, cutting-edge designs, and superior technology when compared with other available massage gun products in the market such as Hypervolt (Hyperice), TimTam (Power Massager), Power Plate (Pulse) or any other product.
The Therabody range of massage gun products is a must-have for any serious athlete, physiotherapist or fitness professional who wishes to stay ahead and stay fit. Be it the Theragun Mini, Prime, Elite or PRO versions, you are guaranteed a soothing percussive therapy session. It is simply a must-have.
Moreover, whichever of the devices you purchase, you are assured of amazing support policies from Therabody, which includes warranties, trade-ups, Therabody health club network, Therabody app, return policy and discount for military personnel. You are sure of value for the cash spent on these products.
Let us now examine these products in more detail.
1. Theragun Mini
The Theragun Mini version of the Theragun massage guns provides solutions to much of the accessibility problems that come with massage guns. Theragun Mini solves the problem of loudness, bulkiness and the relatively high costs of other massage guns, which are usually more than an average consumer could spend. The Theragun Mini comes in a very small size and is low cost. It is portable and simultaneously mighty, which makes this version of the Theragun massage gun popular amongst consumers.
The Theragun Mini possesses three-speed settings (1,750 PPM, 2,100 PPM and 2,400 PPM). It has enough power to punch deep into muscles. It is quiet during usage due to the absence of bells and whistles and is one of the most accessible massage devices on the market. While it is not as powerful as the Elite or PRO versions, the Theragun Mini has top speeds of 2,400 percussions per minute, matching the more expensive models.
Another plus for the Mini’s tiny size is its mobility. It is possible to reach just about any part of the body and comfortably apply enough pressure for a deep massage. Since the Mini is so light (1.4 pounds), the odd arm angles needed to hit those more difficult areas will not tire out your wrists or arms as much as other models. The Mini is also fitted with Quiet Force technology, which allows the device to run much more quietly than previous models of Theragun.
One of its most impressive features is its battery life. On Therabody’s official website, the Mini is said to have up to 150 minutes of sustained run time.
However, it is important to state that the Theragun Mini does not provide as much depth or power with its 12-millimetre amplitude, which simply calculates the distance the massager’s head moves up and down, and 20 pounds of stalling force, which is how hard you can push on it before it stops.
Is the Theragun Mini powerful enough?
For comparison, the standard commercial-level Pro charts 16-millimeter amplitude and 60 pounds of stalling force. Despite this, the Mini provides users with enough percussive power for a relaxing massage.
According to a review of the Theragun Mini by CNET Editor David Carnoy, “This compact percussive massage device is surprisingly powerful.“
However, the Mini comes with one attachment only – the standard ball head. Users can purchase other Theragun attachments because the Mini is compatible with all the attachments that come with other models.
How much does the Theragun Mini cost?
The Theragun Mini is the most exciting and innovative massage device Therabody has in today’s market. Its regular price of $199 makes it the cheapest on the inventory, making it an amazing introductory device.
The Theragun Mini is definitely worth its price tag.
Buy it on Amazon
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2. Theragun Prime
Don’t want any or many of the extra features but just the essentials of a massage gun? Then the Theragn Prime is a great option for you, with its ergonomic shaping and hefty motor.
The Theragun Prime specs place it as the most basic of the three triangular-shaped Theraguns. It comes with 16-millimetre amplitude and 30 pounds of stall force, making it more powerful than the Mini and able to provide enough percussive power for an everyday workout. The Theragun Prime weighs as much as the Elite does at 2.2 pounds; therefore, it is quite easy to move around to reach all parts of the body without straining your hand, arm or wrist.This variant is also the first in the Theragun massage gun series to be equipped with Bluetooth functionality. You can pair the Prime, Elite or PRO to Therabody’s companion app, which guides you through workouts and allows you to control the speed from your mobile device. It has five built-in speeds, 1,750 PPM, 1,900 PPM, 2,100 PPM, 2,200 PPM and 2,400 PPM that you can toggle. The Prime competes effortlessly with the famously quiet Hypervolt Plus in terms of volume level – that is a massive improvement.
The Theragun Prime battery has a listed run time of 120 minutes. It also comes with four attachments: standard ball, dampener, cone and thumb. The Prime has regular pricing set at $299.
The Theragun Prime battery has a listed run time of 120 minutes. It also comes with four attachments: standard ball, dampener, cone and thumb. The Prime has regular pricing set at $299.
Buy it on Amazon
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3. Theragun Elite
The main advancements and improvements of the Theragun Elite include:
- A higher stall force, which simply means you can push deeper into sore muscles
- OLED screen for display of force meter, which reads just how hard you are pushing
- Additional attachment (the wedge)
- Wireless charging capabilities
- The ability to store routines locally on the device for later use
Theragun Elite
Thus, the Elite is a premium device that can aid your muscle recovery effectively. It is an improvement on the Theragun Prime line of products.
The battery life of Theragun Elite exceeded expectations. It is listed as having a run time of up to 120 minutes. It also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee and a one-year warranty period.
The Theragun Elite is certainly a premium percussive device in design, performance and price. The Theragun Elite costs $399 at the regular price.
Buy it on Amazon
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4. Theragun PRO
The Theragun PRO is arguably one of the best massaging guns available in today’s market.
The PRO has an adjustable arm with switchable batteries and packs an incredibly bigger power than all the other Theraguns in the line-up. It comes equipped with a professional-grade motor and with a two-year warranty, unlike the one-year warranty that comes with the other Theragun devices.
The PRO’s adjustable arm, which has four positions, allows users to really hit all parts of the body while maintaining a firm and comfortable grip. The switchable batteries make for a quick switch if one dies, with each lasting about 150 minutes, giving a combined run time of up to 300 minutes.
The Theragun PRO also has an amplitude of 16 millimeters with 60 pounds of stall force. That means you can apply massive amounts of pressure to get deep into tissues for the ultimate massage recovery. You can push as hard as you want with the PRO without worrying about it stopping.
Theragun PRO is built for athletes and individuals who need intense percussive therapy several times within a week. The Theragun PRO has a regular price of $599.
Check it out on Amazon
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Comparing the Theragun Massage Guns
As we noted above, there are four major Theragun massage gun products available in the market, viz: Theragun Mini, Theragun Prime, Theragun Elite and Theragun Pro.
The table below quickly compares how they stack against each other based on the selected features on a scale of 1 – 10, with ten being the highest or best feature.
| Mini | Prime | Elite | PRO | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Battery |
10 |
7 |
8 |
10 |
|
Speed |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
|
Power |
5 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
|
Portability |
10 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
|
Accessories |
2 |
10 |
10 |
5 |
|
Price |
10 |
7 |
7 |
8 |
Conclusion
Therabody’s new line of fourth-generation Theraguns is the next step in the field of percussion therapy. Many users favor the Theragun Mini, due to its many features such as portability, ease of use, and its ability to provide a solid massage experience in a tiny device that is not too pricey.
The Theragun PRO is truly one of the best massage guns available, perfect for any athlete who wants the best recovery or for a physical therapist. On the other hand, the Theragun Prime and Theragun Elite are a few upgrades from the Mini, with the Prime giving users just the basic capabilities and the Elite offering more functionality.
Disclaimer: This article was written to serve as a guide and should not be taken as medical advice or medical recommendation. Consult with your physician before making any medical or health-related decision.
