Best massage guns on the market

TRIGGER POINTS

Hypervolt 2

The road to ultimate fitness is dotted with making time for recovery. The short cut to that might just be blasting away pain and sti ness with the best massage guns money can buy.

BY NING CHAO

Shooting yourself in the foot sounds like a career-crushing move for any athlete. But sitting on the sidelines of a game, pros are actually preventing and treating injuries by holding what looks like a pulsating gun to their quads, calves, and even the bottom of their shoes.

Handheld percussion devices—nicknamed “massage guns” because of their striking shape and appearance—are soaring in popularity to soothe pain and jump-start muscle recovery. A distant cousin to gadgets previously on the market, these massage guns use a pounding motion to mimic deep-tissue massage with vibration.

“If we can take care of ourselves physically, we can perhaps ease many of the burdens that come with mental health issues.”

JASON WERSLAND Theragun Developer

Theragun PRO

“Percussive therapy is a deeper, more effective mode of recovery and body activation than vibration,” explains Los Angeles–based chiropractor Jason Wersland, who invented Theragun, the rst device of its kind, over a decade ago. Designed to rapidly apply pressure (then release), these therapeutic devices boost blood ow, stimulate wound healing, lower in ammation, and reduce pain. Multiple attachments change the massage head to better target and treat different areas of the body. The latest models are stronger, quieter, lighter, and less expensive, giving you the most bang for your buck.

Hyperice

> FOR ATHLETES: (more power for denser muscle tissue): Hypervolt 2 Pro, $399 > FOR EVERYBODY: Hypervolt Go, $199; Hypervolt, $249; Hypervolt 2, $299; Hypervolt Plus, $329; hyperice.com

Founded by amateur basketball player Anthony Katz, Irvinebased Hyperice started with cold compression therapy (developed with Kobe Bryant), then launched its rst Hypervolt portable percussion device in 2018. With LeBron James, Patrick Mahomes, Lindsey Vonn, and Naomi Osaka on board as both investors and collaborators, Hypervolt is the device you’re most likely to see courtside, since it partners with the NFL, NBA, and MLB.

New this fall, the Hypervolt 2 Pro is the only massage gun on the market that’s powered by the same battery type used for electric cars. This translates to more power and a longer life per charge, perfect for a little extra TLC whether you’re on a business trip or at an away game.

Therabody

> FOR ATHLETES: Theragun PRO, $599 > FOR EVERYBODY: Theragun mini, $199; Theragun Prime, $299; Theragun Elite, $399; therabody.com

The gold standard of handheld percussive-therapy devices, Theragun was developed by Wersland to treat his own debilitating back pain after an injury. The patented triangle design is both eye-catching and ergonomic, allowing for different grips to target more hard-to-reach spots—all while eliminating wrist fatigue. “It doesn’t make sense to put strain on one part of your body while trying to make another part feel better,” says Wersland.

PRO, Elite, and Prime are the newest Theraguns, offering Bluetooth connectivity through the Therabody app to guide your device through programs for everything from better sleep, tech neck therapy, and gaming recovery to sur ng warm-up or jet lag therapy. “Debilitating pain can lead to depression … and anxiety can lead to muscle tension,” says Wersland, who is currently researching Theragun’s effects on mental and emotional health. Hoping to engineer treatment programs for PTSD, anxiety, and depression, Wersland points to full-body recovery as the future of percussive devices. “If we can take care of ourselves physically, we can perhaps ease many of the burdens that come with mental health issues.”