Best massage guns in the UK: Combat muscle soreness in 2020 - Mashable

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Finding time for proper workout recovery is — but shouldn't have to be — a luxury.

Between a job, social life, and chasing eight hours of sleep, workouts get squeezed into the day's only free time slot. A proper cool down (let alone a massage) is usually the thing that gets glossed over, or else skipped completely.

Enter those massage guns that have taken the fitness world by storm. Turns out that those mesmerising skin ripples are more than just a weird flex. The form of portable muscle therapy that started with professional athletes has trickled down into the lives of your average gym-goer who doesn't have the time or money for foam rolling sessions on sore days.

The ability to give yourself a deep-tissue massage at home is also potentially life-changing for anyone suffering from chronic shoulder, neck, or back pain. When a cheap massage ball is too weak but weekly acupuncture is too daunting, a massage gun might be the perfect middle ground.

How do massage guns work?


Percussive therapy is the name of the game, and it's a more professional term for "your muscles like it rough."

Athletes turn to deep-tissue massage for quick pain relief and faster recovery times. Here, a professional masseuse delivers forceful, rapid thumps to a specific area of the body to stimulate a specific set of muscles. The percussive therapy afforded by a massage gun lets individuals perform this same type of penetrative tissue attention on themselves without extra help, and these devices are said to provide hours worth of massage benefits in minutes.

Treating something that hurts like a punching bag may seem like the last thing it needs, but beating that damaged deep tissue into submission has a desensitising effect, and if you've ever tried a cheap massager on back knots, you know it takes some oomph to feel anything. These short-duration pulses enhance blood flow, soften knots, and accelerate the repair of muscle fibers, all of which can lead to better-prepared warmups and quicker recovery times. This form of self-myofascial release is huge for people who have a hard time keeping up with a routine due to delayed-onset muscle soreness.

Your mood might see a spike, too. The pressure point relief that massage provides has been linked to decreased levels of cortisol (the stress hormone), an increased production of endorphins (the feel-good chemical), and even a lower heart rate.

We don't know who needs to hear this, but percussive therapy isn't a fix-all. A massage gun may be able to replace pricey massage appointments or heckling your gym partner to help you stretch, but nutrients from a balanced diet, sleep, and getting proper hydration are still crucial to the muscle growth and recovery process.

Which massage gun is the best?


Frequent workout schedules and high pain levels might make a £500 massage gun worth it — but in other cases, a less-intense device may be more beneficial. These are some factors to consider:

Percussion massagers vs. vibration massagers: Not all pain is created equal. Percussion massagers mimic the kneading hands of a masseuse, providing pressure strong enough to hammer below the top layers and tend to damaged muscle fibers. This is ideal if heavy-duty workouts are your lifestyle, but 60 pounds of force may simply be too much in other situations. Occasional exercisers, seniors, and folks with chronic pain may prefer the surface-level rumbling of a vibration massager, which provides the same speedy pulses with less "punch" for a more relaxing experience. Vibration massagers usually oscillate in more rapid strokes with less horsepower.

Customisation options: You wouldn't massage a bony spine like you would a shoulder with a tough knot — you don't need a professional to tell you that. If you have multiple muscle categories that need to be worked on and varying levels of strain, look for a device that offers different speeds (RPM) and attachment heads to target each specific muscle group. When comparing specs, remember that higher speed doesn't always mean vigor. The amplitude (how deep the massage head will push into your body) relies on the amount of force behind each pulse, and heavier force on a slow RPM setting will feel more intense than a faster RPM setting with weaker force.

Noise: No one wants to sit in a public place (or at home with a sleeping baby) using a device that sounds like a construction site. It might be impossible for these drill-like massage guns to be completely silent, but the reviews will let you know if the noise is tolerable or obnoxious.

Battery life: Many people depend on their massage gun for a rushed cool down in the middle of a busy schedule, and charging after every use is a huge inconvenience. The best massage guns will get up to three hours of battery life while the weaker ones max out at around 40 minutes.

There is a lot to know about massage guns, and it's important to do your research before making a purchase. To make your job a little easier, we have tracked down five examples of devices that cover all the bases.

These are some of the best massage guns on the market in the UK.

Super quiet • Battery lasts up to three hours • Lightweight • Closest to a professional massage experience
Carrying case sold separately
The lightweight Hypervolt has lots of speed options and is quieter than others on this list.
Hyperice Hypervolt

These high-powered vibrations are great for general soreness and a more peaceful experience.

• Strokes per minute: 2,000 to 3,200
• Stroke depth: 16 mm
• Speed settings: 3
• Battery life: 180 minutes
• Included heads: 5

The Hyperice Hypervolt provides a well-rounded massage experience that should suit almost everyone.
The motor's rumbles are steady and muted thanks to its Quiet Glide technology, which is guaranteed to pique the interest of people who need to use their device at the office, at home with skittish pets around, or at the gym without drawing stares.
The newest version of the Hypervolt is also equipped with pressure sensor lights on the back that give the user (or physical therapist) feedback about how much pressure they're putting on and how hard to push to achieve the same results next time. The five included attachments may require some experimentation, so the pressure sensor will be extra handy when figuring out what works for you.
Pre-programmed settings for warm-ups, lumbar massages, and more • 175-degree rotating head • Heated tip
No setting over 3,000 strokes per minute • Only comes with two interchangeable heads • Battery life
Stiff muscles and joints get some much-needed relaxation thanks to the heated tip and temperature sensor on the TimTam Power Massager.
TimTam Power Massager Pro

The TimTam Power Massager Pro employs heat to help loosen up your muscles.

• Strokes per minute: 1,000 to 2,800.
• Stroke depth: 32 mm
• Speed settings: 3
• Battery life: 40-60 minutes
• Included heads: 2

The ice versus heat debate comes up nearly every time someone feels an inkling of pain. While ice numbs fleeting injuries like a sprained ankle, heat remedies more persisting pains like stiff muscles by increasing blood flow and lubricating joints. The latter is what many people use massage guns for, too, and the TimTam's heated tip lets users combine percussion and heat therapy for double the soothing effects.
Therapeutic relief also comes in the form of the TimTam's pre-programmed settings, which pair stroke speed, power, and vibration pattern for the body part you're working on. Choose from three speeds (1,000, 2,000, or 2,800 strokes per minute), plus settings specifically for warming up, recovery, and even a neck or lumbar massage. Even more localised treatment can be done with TimTam's range of heating and cooling heads, but all but two are sold separately.
Someone who prefers a brisk beating won't be impressed by the strokes per minute not rising above 2,800, but it's also notable that the lowest speed is 1,000 RPM — a soft, low-risk speed for older people those with a low pain tolerance. The built-in muscle temperature sensor scans to find muscle groups that are cold or overworked.
TimTam's website claims that using the PowerMassager Pro for a few minutes is equivalent to a one-hour professional massage. Whether that's true or not is up to you, but the upgrades from the previous model certainly make it a strong contender. These include a 175-degree rotating head compared to the previous 90-degree head and 50% less noise. Battery life was apparently overlooked during these upgrades, as you won't get more than an hour on one charge.
Price • Quiet Glide technology • Six replacement heads • Battery life
Could be more powerful
This budget-friendly device offers effective relief for your tight and tired muscles, without making loads of noise.
Oyria Personal Massage Gun

The Oyria Personal Massage Gun keep noise to a minumum thanks to its Quiet Glide technology.

• Strokes per minute: Up to 2,560
• Stroke depth: 12 mm
• Speed settings: 3
• Battery life: 360 minutes
• Included heads: 6

For anyone new to the massage gun game, spending hundreds of pounds on a device can seem like a big risk. You don't need to spend big though, because the Oyria Personal Massage Gun offers effective relief at a low price.
This deep tissue massager provides up to 2,560 percussions per minute, and claims to help relieve muscle stiffness and soreness, increase blood pressure, improve the overall health of the body's soft tissues, and prevent fascitis which is a painful inflammation caused by adhesion between the fascia and muscles.
It stays quiet even at its most powerful, putting out no more than 50 dB. This is thanks to the Quiet Glide technology and brushless motor, that combine to ensure you're able to use this device in the office without grabbing the attention of every one of your colleagues.
You get the choice of six replacement heads and three speed settings, helping users to customise their experience depending on what needs attention. The cordless massager is also equipped with 2,500mAh lithium battery, so it can keep working for over six hours on a single charge.
Powerful • Battery life • Robust • Attachments and setting options
No heating
Popular device with customers who love the power, battery, and value.
RENPHO Muscle Massager

Choose your desired massage intensity to totally relax after a long day of work or exercise.

• Strokes per minute: Up to 32,000
• Stroke depth: 10 mm
• Speed settings: 20
• Battery life: 480 minutes
• Included heads: 6

If we were going solely off online reviews, the RENPHO Muscle Massager would be top of the list.
Customers seem to absolutely love this device for a number of reasons, namely its power, robust design, battery life, and speed settings. It's an impressive product that promises to relieve tension, stiffness, and pain effectively.
The RENPHO massage gun uses a brushless motor with 20 adjustable speeds going up to 3,200 strokes per minute. You can pick your desired massage intensity to totally relax after a long day of work or exercise. If you can relax whilst having your muscles pounded, that is.
The maximum noise output of this massager is 55 dB when the speed level is 20. This is louder than some of the other devices on this list, but RENPHO claim that this shouldn't disturb others, as it's just normal talking volume.
The RENPHO massage gun has a built-in and rechargeable 2,500mAh battery, which lasts for up to eight hourson a single charge. It also only takes a couple of hours to fully charge, so you can always get a massage when you need it most.
Price • Speed options • Touchscreen • Battery capacity
Length of the cable
A great product that proves you don't need to spend hundreds of pounds to get the best.
FYLINA Muscle Massage Gun

Comes with a 2,600mA rechargeable battery for up to eight hours of use from a single charge.

• Strokes per minute: 1,800 to 3,300
• Stroke depth: 16 mm
• Speed settings: 20
• Battery life: 480 minutes
• Included heads: 6

A device is only as good as its battery, because once something has run out of juice, it's useless.
The FYLINA Muscle Massage Gun comes equipped with a 2,600mA rechargeable battery that can last for up to eight hours after just two to three hours of charging. The massage gun will also automatically shut off after 10 minutes to avoid unnecessary power loss. It's refreshing when you don't have to constantly worry about power.
This massage gun operates between 1,800 and 3,300 strokes per minute, and you have the choice of 20 speed settings. You also get six replacement heads included with your purchase, meaning you can target different parts of your body depending on what needs the most attention.
Noise is always something to consider when it comes to massage guns, because you are inevitably going to use them in public places. FYLINA claim that this device never goes above 50 dB, which is reassuring.