Simply «shoot away» pain all over the body – that’s what the manufacturers of massage guns promise. In an interview with FITBOOK, the renowned physiotherapist Andreas Stommel warns against their use. Nevertheless, our author wanted to know whether she could use it to loosen her hardened running calf and tested a device.
Have you ever had the pleasure of using a massage gun? “Babb-babb-babb-babb-brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr” – a thoroughly impressive physical experience when a tense part of the body is treated with powerful impacts like a moss-covered pavement slab being scoured.
The market leader knocks 40 times a second – a woodpecker gets half of it
Many physiotherapists now use massage guns for relief, and athletes such as soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo celebrate the muscular shaking effect on Instagram: for example, the «Elite» from market leader Theragun taps the skin and the underlying tissue up to 40 times per second – by one To make a comparison: A woodpecker only manages half as much when processing wood.
Manufacturer’s answer to every muscular problem: massage gun!
The impressive rattling of the massaging pistols, paired with various cone and ball attachments, is said to result in «unsurpassed deep muscle relaxation». Tensions are said to be effectively reduced, recovery accelerated and the well-being of the whole body improved by stimulating blood and lymph flow. That’s not all: Pain should be alleviated, athletic performance improved. From strong neck tension to tendinitis and bursitis: If you believe the advertising, there is hardly a problem of the musculoskeletal system that cannot be struck down with shots from the massage gun.
Such promises make the hairs on the back of the neck of the physiotherapist Andreas Stommel stand up. The well-known expert, who has many professional athletes and dancers under his wing, not only doubts the effectiveness of massage guns – with a few exceptions in the field of sports – in the hands of the layman who wants to do something good for his injured or damaged muscles through the impacts, he even considers their use to be dangerous.
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Physiotherapist: You can’t just shoot away little aches and pains
“People think they can shoot away their little aches and pains with a pistol. And at first it feels really good,» says Andreas Stommel in an interview with FITBOOK. “However, I think these things are dangerous.” What most people don’t realize is that shocks are used like with a jackhammer – “and the energy input into the body is far too high.” 40 shocks per second – the physiotherapist finds that “martial”.
In response, the muscle fibers would contract and not relax as the manufacturer advocated. A kind of protective mechanism. «You think the shocks are helping because it feels good – and after two weeks you notice that the symptoms are back.» «He applies the device unfiltered, not knowing if he’s harming himself.»
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Massage guns can also cause damage
Stommel reports on the case of a patient who treated her painful bursitis (bursitis) on her elbow with the Theragun herself. In her case, the problem worsened with the use of the massage gun to such an extent that the woman had to have an operation. «You have to be extremely careful not to damage yourself with it,» warns the renowned physiotherapist, who has already accompanied Helene Fischer and her crew on a tour of Germany. Otherwise you risk making a problem out of a trifle. Bursitis is mentioned by the manufacturer on the website as one of 32 areas of application.
Every body reacts differently – the hand feels it, the gun doesn’t
«You can’t shoot away problems in the musculoskeletal system, and you can only achieve general relaxation with a manual massage,» says Stommel. Every body reacts differently to pressure and pain points. As a physiotherapist, he can fully power some patients, but not others. “When I put my hands on the patient, I feel with my hand and fingers. How can a massage gun even remotely achieve the same effect?”
Also interesting: The role of the fascia in the development of pain
For whom the massage gun can be useful
Part of the problem is also that the manufacturers have identified the layperson as the largest target group – sales are greatest in this market. From Andreas Stommel’s point of view, massage guns should be classified as medical devices. Then they would be subject to the Medical Devices Act, which requires many costly and time-consuming examinations. «But that’s not what the company has in mind,» says Stommel.
The expert only considers the use of massage pistols to be partially sensible in two cases: for professional athletes who know their body well and are regularly in physiotherapy treatment, and as relief for physiotherapists and chiropractors who treat patients with «extreme tension» with their own hands come to the limit. For him, however, that is out of the question.
Conclusion on massage guns
For athletes who know their body inside and out and know how it reacts to pressure, the massage gun can be of help – for example to loosen tense muscles. Anyone who is a layman in the field and cannot correctly assess the frequency, dosage or duration of use should keep their hands off it. There is a risk of doing more harm than solving problems and tension.
Despite the objections of physiotherapists, massage guns have conquered the European market. Devices are available from 80 to 600 euros. There are no serious tests on what to look out for when buying.
Experience report: Theragun Elite in the test (approx. 399 euros)
“As soon as the massage gun is in my hand, I am impressed: its weight conveys value, the triangular handle fits in the hand like a mixer – which the 4th generation Theragun Elite is also visually reminiscent of. Only it was not developed for stirring dough, but as an alleged miracle weapon for properly tense muscles – and I have plenty of that. I repeatedly treat my hardened calf and tense neck with the massage gun for two minutes each on different days. I also use the Theragun Elite to work on sore muscles in my thighs and buttocks, and I use them before a run a few times. On calves and buttocks, parts of my body that are very insensitive, I enjoy being shaken through at all levels and I also have the feeling that the vibrations reach the depths of my muscles. The calf, which previously appeared as if it had been concreted, feels softer after using the massage gun. The next day, however, nothing was left of the loosening, I started again with a hard calf on the track. The gluteal muscles, on the other hand, benefit, here I can actually push back the sore muscles a little with regular use. The massage with the Theragun hurts slightly on the thighs, which are plagued by sore muscles, just on the verge of being uncomfortable. Recovery effect, however: none. I’m more careful in the shoulder and neck area. Basically, I feel here that my body has a lot to do with being able to withstand this force. Two minutes in the neck – you have to be able to endure that and I obviously can’t. My physiotherapist also advises me not to use it in this sensitive area. The bottom line is that I would say that the massage gun definitely creates a feel-good effect on severely hardened muscles. I can’t really confirm the regenerative effects I experience, for example, with the foam roller.» Anna Kessler