Do your Sore Muscles Need a Massage Gun?

by Valerie Demetros

Since its introduction in 2008, the massage gun has developed into a go-to device for athletes around the world looking to ease the recovery process and aid muscle therapy.

The massage gun can offer a professionallevel massage at a fraction of the price and has gone from a physical therapy device to an at-home staple for non-athletes looking to relieve aches and pains.

Also called a percussive massage gun, it is a handheld device providing rapid, short bursts of pressure to the muscles. This quick, intense vibration helps muscles release knots, reduce soreness and increase circulation. It also improves range of motion in some cases.

Even better, when done correctly, massage guns can help release dopamine and serotonin, chemicals responsible for happiness and relaxation.

Do the research to find just the right spots and the right amount of pressure needed.

Regular use of the gun also has been linked to increased blood circulation, lymphatic drainage and increased focus.

How often you use it is up to you, but some experts suggest that anyone who engages in regular physical activity should use it before

training to prime muscles and afterward to relieve tension and soreness.

Just be sure to steer away from bony areas, and be careful to move around to avoid soreness in one spot.

Many people use a foam roller for muscle tension, but the massage gun goes much deeper and provides quicker relief. It is also easier to throw a massage gun into your workout bag rather than a large foam roller.

Of course, if you’re on a budget, you may want to stick to the foam roller since massage guns can run from $65 to $500. You can grab a foam roller for about $10.

However, the gun can be cost effective by reducing visits to a massage therapist when used regularly. One study showed that percussive massagers can provide the same benefit as a 15-minute massage in as little as two minutes of use.

IV VITAMINS & HYDRATION: Ready to Feel Amazing? by Anita Farrelly, RN, BSN, MBA/HCM & Jessica Dickinson, RN, BSN, Owners, Aboost Wellness

Imagine if a storm blew through Yavapai County and multiple trees were blown down. We would blame the wind and rain.

However, consider that the trees weren’t strong from the inside. At their inner core their cells were weak and deteriorating; but we can’t

“see” that. Our bodies are like the tree, we can’t see our cells, but we can pay attention to the signs and symptoms our bodies tell us.

Ask yourself: How is my energy? Do I have any stress in my life? Do I have any aches and pains? Do I have any medical conditions, such as fibromyalgia, gout, MS, arthritis or viral infections? Am I dehydrated?

Your body needs essential vitamins and nutrients to function at peak performance.

You might be wondering, why would I volunteer to put a needle in my arm to get vitamins?

Vitamins given intravenously skip the gut and digestion process and enter straight into the bloodstream. When you are not absorbing nutrients from food and supplements, your immune system, energy, performance, productivity and mood may be negatively impacted.

IV vitamin therapy is a progressive and preventative way to enhance cellular vitality, however, its roots started over a century ago. The first IV resuscitation was first performed in 1832, but was not adopted by the medical community until the 1940s.

In 1960, Dr. John Myers had a theory that since the basis of life occurs at the cellular level and because cells require essential micronutrients such as vitamin C, vitamin B and magnesium to thrive, why not infuse “ultra-safe” doses and monitor the effect?

As a result, it was the beginning of the micronutrient infusion revolution known as IV therapy.

Getting down to the scientific side, health starts in your cells. When vitamins are infused intravenously, the cells are exposed to high plasma levels of vitamins. This creates an osmotic gradient that pushes the micronutrients into the cells.

Cells have a lifespan, ranging from several days to several months. Intermittent IV vitamins have a beneficial effect on your cellular vitality.

If you are feeling tired, dehydrated, stressed — you could benefit from IV vitamin therapy.

And if you do have an occasional happy overindulgence (otherwise known as a hangover), infusions can help your recovery in a matter of minutes.