It’s so easy to become obsessed with visiting the gym. Like any physical activity or sporting interest, once you get used to the habit, you tend to feel worse if you don’t practice it there. Since we were able to wave goodbye to closing in, life at my local gym has more or less returned to normal and it’s great to be back.
While the gym was closed, I went back to running. I finally got a really decent pair of best shoes And hit the road. I started with 5k and eventually made it to around 10k a day. The downside was that running reminded me of why I signed up for the gym all those years ago.
Running affects my knees and also causes various aches and pains. This is the main reason why I started using a few Best massage guns On the market, one of them has proven to really help relieve some of the muscle soreness I got from pounding sidewalks. And now that I’m back in the gym, the massage gun has proven to be very useful for post-workout time as well.
start
TechRadar’s massage pistol review helped give me some insight into what I want from one of these portable units. I’ve also been able to experiment with many different variations on the topic. One thing I found after trying a variety of different massage heads is how versatile these tools are.
The Theragon Prime It is my favorite at the moment. It’s a quality set, but I also really liked the companion app. If you create an account, they can help you with personalized massages, tailored to suit your needs. There are also great instructions for anyone starting out unsure of which head to use, how long to massage, and all that’s left.
Depending on how much you spend, you will get a selection of different massage heads such as a fork head, large and small ball, bullet head and possibly an airbag head depending on my Theragun model. If you only have basic needs, a beginner massage gun should tick most of the boxes, but spend a little more and you should get a full set of heads. This means that your massage gun can be used in many ways and in different problem areas.
(Image credit: Rob Climo)
two days in
One valuable tip I’ve learned over time is that if you are able to get a family member or friend to help, it’s a good idea to make your gun massages a group effort. It can be hard to reach a lot of places on your body. Or you may be able to reach them, but not at the right angle or the right level of massage intensity. Another person handling the same area may produce a more effective result. It is worth trying.
Recently, for this feature, I’ve been using Theragun Prime along with the guides in the app consistently for a week. More specifically, I was using Workout Recovery. This lasts for eight minutes, covers the entire body and uses a regular ball and moisturizer. It starts with the right rear, then the left, then moves to the right lower back, then the left lower back and so on, stretching between them. Doing it with the help of the app makes me feel more confident about how to do the massage, and most importantly, that I’m doing it right.
four days in
I really started to delve into the positive benefits of Theragun app. Having discovered more custom massage routines, including a great lower body that fits perfectly for an hour’s mess of cross trainers, I find this a real help. In fact, I would say the biggest thing I learned this week is to make sure you get a massage gun with enough instructions on how to use it, or check with someone who has experience with it for some important advice.
The best part of this arrangement is that you can customize the settings to suit you. Once you create an account, the app allows you to create a favorite list of massage options. It’s also easy to keep track of exactly what you’re doing, so you don’t overdo it. I think running the app along with the massage gun is really the best thing about this unscientific experiment so far.
(Image credit: Rob Climo)
seven days in
Keeping a record of my week using the massage gun after gym sessions has proven to be very helpful. It has definitely convinced me that regular massage gun therapy can be beneficial and this applies to anyone who does occasional workouts or daily fitness sessions. I find that if I overdo it, my muscles start to feel tired, especially my legs due to my tendency to cross trainer.
The great thing about owning a massage gun is that the sessions don’t have to be long either. I’ve found that five or ten minutes of working on problem areas can really help melt away tangled muscles or those dull aches you have from repetitive training time. Again, the app is perfect for helping you keep track of time and step-by-step massages allow you to work methodically and prevent you from overdoing it.
Monitoring my use of the massage gun over a week also confirmed how I need to make sure I don’t overdo it too much on the exercise front. A massage gun can be a useful tool, but you also need to tone down your workouts with some rest days. As I’ve found, tracking your activity makes you realize how good it is to switch up your fitness routine.
So, some days it’s just going to be a multi-trainer and other days, some weights. Variety is the spice of life, isn’t it?
main gains
My muscles feel more ready for the next workout session, especially using the companion app Muscle massage and close monitoring help manage your workout routine more effectively Using a massage gun after a workout is a great calorie-free, low-stress way to relax when you’re done at the gym
