Home massagers are extremely popular, and there is little wonder why.
After a long stressful day, finding a way to relax your muscles just plain feels good, and percussion massagers are one of the best.
Designed with a handle and a large round tip, and often called a “gun,” these massagers provide concentrated action in very specific areas, allowing you to apply relief exactly where you need it so you can feel better soon.
If you’ve ever wondered “are percussion massagers safe?” the answer is “yes,” but you must use them properly to get the most out of them.
What Is a Percussive Massage?
There are many different types of massages, and a percussive massage involves soft but fast compressions to the muscles. It involves deep penetration of soft tissue so the muscles become supple and you can start to relax and feel better quickly.
In fact, percussive massage has been found to be up to 30 times more effective than most other types of massage, and with a percussion massager, you don’t have to do anything by hand.
Today’s percussive massage is derived from traditional Swedish massage techniques and involves the following five basic types of strokes:
- Effleurage: long, gliding strokes
- Friction: firm, circular strokes
- Petrissage: kneading strokes
- Tapotement: light taping movements
- Vibration: shaking of muscles
Professional massage therapists utilize different techniques depending on what type of pain you’re experiencing, and they know how to perform each stroke with perfection.
If you decide to use a percussion massager yourself, however, you’ll have to learn to do the techniques properly so you don’t do something wrong and inadvertently harm yourself in the process.
But not to worry, because if you follow a few simple rules, you’ll be just fine.
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Cordless state-of-the-art percussion massage device that helps relax sore and stiff muscles to improve mobility.
How to Use a Percussion Massager
First of all, a percussion massager usually has interchangeable tips to provide the right type of massage for your aches and pains.
One of the most-popular models has a 2000HP motor and a shaft that moves up and down 30-40 times per minute, giving you a great massage every time.
Since the head hits the muscle repeatedly for a certain length of time, you get deeper strokes each time and it simulates the hands of a true massage professional.
So how do you use this massager correctly?
To begin with, although it might be tempting to do so, you should never push the massager into your muscles. Instead, just let the massager do the work for you.
The strength and power of the massager are enough to put just the right amount of pressure on your muscles to make them feel better. You won’t need any more pressure than that. Just let the rotating head “float” along your muscles naturally for the best effect.
In addition, if you place the massager alongside, above, and below the target area, you’ll get even better results with each massage.
When you turn the massager on, make sure it is not placed against your skin in any way. You’ll want to turn it on while it’s away from your body, then bring it closer to the muscle groups you wish to massage. That way, your muscles won’t be jarred suddenly when you turn on the massager.
The most important rule for a percussion massager is to just let it glide across your muscles, and never press down or mash the massager into your muscles.
In other words, let the massager do the hard work for you.
If you work out regularly, you can even use this massager before your workout so it is a little less painful for you. When used correctly, a percussion massager is a great tool that can keep your muscles supple and pain-free for a very long time.
Conclusion
Percussive massages are great because they target specific muscles and provide a concentrated amount of pressure so you get just the right amount of pressure to relieve your pain.
Learning how to use percussion massagers isn’t difficult because if you use them correctly, they do all the work for you. Because of this, these are great massagers to have around even if you aren’t suffering from sore muscles, because they keep your muscles supple for as long as you use them.
