As with traditional massage techniques, massage guns are handheld devices that can also provide vibration therapy. It sends pulses of concentrated pressure deep into your muscles to increase blood flow in order to relieve pain, tension, and soreness for a more rapid and enhanced recovery. Vibration therapy has been proven to be one of the best techniques that restore and improve muscular function after DOMS. Recovery is achieved from increased blood supply to the injury and decreased sensation of pain.
The application of pressure both in manual massage and massage guns is used to mobilize soft tissues, like muscles, to increase and improve blood flow to the area. When vibration is transmitted to the body, it produces a pumping action, which triggers the movement of the blood along and around the area where the vibration is applied. This flushes out pain substances and replenishes the muscle with oxygen and nutrients needed for repair. Also, after a series of contraction—relaxation, tight muscles are made to relax. Muscle knots or nodules tend to soften and easily respond to massage and stretching, thereby increasing the range of motion. People suffering from both acute muscle soreness and DOMS can benefit from the increased vascularization in just one device, anytime and anywhere. ALL BECAUSE OF INCREASED BLOOD FLOW. That’s why to get repaired, get pumped up.
Both massage and vibration therapy provided by massage guns deliver the same result. However, in a study conducted to compare the effect of Vibration Therapy and massage in the prevention of DOMS, vibration therapy shows clinically early reduction of pain 48 hours post-exercise as compared to manual massage (see Vibration Therapy Versus Massage On DOMS: What Science Has To Say).
Vibration therapy as an effective tool in alleviating pain works following Ronald Melzack and Patrick Wall’s Gate Control Theory. The theory believes that it is possible to “trick” the brain with the right stimulation, thereby reducing perception pain (see TRICKING THE BRAIN NOT TO PERCEIVE PAIN — Pain Relief Modalities Utilizing the Gate-Control Theory).
Vibration devices such as massage guns relieve pain through stimulation-induced analgesia.
Massage guns were developed to deliver these benefits of vibration therapy and provide the same relief as an actual manual massage does in the comfort of your own home, and the quality of relief is provided by yourself or by a loved one. This is exactly what the massage guns are employed. These tools improve recovery time from both injury and muscle soreness and are easy to use, portable, and available for every budget.