Dr. Melissa Prestipino, PT, DPT, owner of Maize & Blue Rehab in New Jersey, told Healthline, “The Theragun Elite offers a very quiet percussive force, which is quieter than other massage guns on the market. This feature is beneficial when using the device in a public place and not wanting to draw attention with a loud sound.” After the receipt of shipment, you cannot exchange or return items for any reason other than defective or damaged products. Bottom line: a convenient tool that combines the benefits of massage and cold therapy to reduce muscle soreness and inflammation

The use of the massage gun depends on your purpose. If you are using it for warming up, it is best to press it gently into the area for three to five seconds. If you are using the massage gun after a workout, it is best to use it for five to ten minutes to treat your entire body. Do not forget to breathe while using the massage gun. For some people, stretching may be more relaxing because of the nonpercussive impact to the muscle, Malek says. And because you don’t need equipment, it’s more convenient. Using Bluetooth capabilities, you can also connect the Theragun PRO to the Therabody app for personalized wellness routines. Massage can reduce tension in muscles and impact flexibility, reducing muscle stiffness, increasing blood flow, and decreasing muscle soreness,” Malek says. And there is some evidence that vibration therapy can have the same effect as massage therapy in terms of limiting delayed onset muscle soreness (the tightness and achiness you feel a day or two after a tough workout). The Difference Between Massage Guns, Foam Rollers, and Other Muscle Recovery OptionsWarranty: Especially for more expensive tools, the warranty of each product factored into our decision. The ergonomic design makes the massage gun easy to hold for treating all body parts. Powerful percussions, extremely light construction & excellent battery life is what makes this massage gun stand out from its alternatives! While Malek says the evidence is scant to conclusively link training benefits with massage guns, there is research to support the two modes of therapy that behind the percussive massage treatment of massage guns. Those are massage, a treatment that your muscles being kneaded and manipulated by another person, and vibration therapy, which involves placing a vibrating device on certain parts of your body. Noise: 45 dB | Stall Force: 30 lbs | Weight: 1.9 lbs | Customizability: 6 head attachments, 6 speeds | Battery Life: 3 hours | Our Overall Rating: 4.8/5 Noise: Not listed | Stall Force: 30 lbs | Weight: 2.2 lbs | Customizability: 4 head attachments, 5 speeds | Battery Life: 2 hours | Our Overall Rating: 5/5

Always follow directions from the manufacturer and your healthcare professionals when performing myofascial release techniques and use tools only where intended. We found this device to be quite large and, at 2.3 pounds, on the heavy side, so it may not be very portable or ideal for long self-massage sessions. Best for those looking for a compact massage gun that's easier to hold and carry—and more budget-friendly—than larger devices.

Suitable For

While you can also use it to warm up your muscles pre-workout, many reviewers mention it’s been very helpful for soothing sore muscles after intense workouts. We love that this massage gun effectively reaches specific trigger points and particularly sore spots. It's quieter than Opove's previous model, the M3 Pro, formerly our best overall massage gun. It's also more compact and easier to maneuver than its predecessor, making the Apex an easy choice for our best overall spot. As fans of deep tissue massage, we also love that the device comes with multiple smaller attachments for more intense kneading. Although this massage gun has a hefty stall force of 50 pounds, it's still quite lightweight, only weighing 2.3 pounds. Size: The size of the device is another important factor, as some are designed to fit in a gym bag, while others are too bulky to carry around.