Percussion massager

A percussion massager, commonly known as a massage gun, is a battery powered handheld tool with a motor that drives an attachment head in and out rapidly against the skin and underlying muscle. Unlike a foam roller, which relies on your body weight, a percussion massager does the work for you, which makes it easier to reach areas like the upper back or shoulders that are hard to roll on unassisted.

Most models offer several speed settings and interchangeable heads, a rounded ball head for general use, a flat head for larger muscles, and a narrow bullet head for pinpoint spots like the space beside the shoulder blade. Two specs matter most when comparing models, stall force, which is how much pressure the motor tolerates before slowing, and amplitude, how far the head travels with each stroke. Louder is not the same as more effective, and a quieter motor with good stall force is often a better sign of build quality than raw speed.

A common mistake is pressing too hard or lingering directly on a joint, tendon or bone rather than muscle. Let the tool's own motion do the work, move slowly across the muscle, and avoid using it directly over an acute injury or a numb area. Anyone with a medical condition affecting nerves, circulation or blood clotting should check with a doctor before regular use.