The best massage guns that will change the way you work out forever

As much as we love the gym, we cannot stand the dreaded post-gym ache or as it's better known - sore muscles. Whether you can barely make it down the stairs post leg day, or struggle to reach for a plate after that upper body workout, no one enjoys the aftermath of a good gym session.

Especially after a two-year sedentary lifestyle (cheers, lockdown), our muscles are no longer accustomed to burpees, and those squats have never hit harder than they do now.

Luckily, there is one fab way to prevent stiffness and discomfort: introducing massage guns.

With gels, exercise technics and other devices that claim to help soothe aches and pains, what makes massage guns the best option? This guide is here to help you choose the right solution for you.

What are massage guns?

Massage guns were once predominately used by sports stars and gym bunnies to help soothe muscular pain and speed up rehabilitation, but this equipment is easy for anyone to use.

Plus, it's a great way to get a deep tissue massage at home. And, relax!

That said, if you're hitting the gym we'd recommend using a massage gun to warm up your muscles pre-workout or as you cool down to facilitate muscle recovery.

Other benefits from using this fitness equipment include relieving stress and tension, improving circulation in the body, increasing mobility and helping you get to sleep at night – what’s not to love?

If it's good enough for Pro Triathlete, Lucy Charles-Barclay, well then it's good enough for us.

Commercial Content Writer, Lily Anderson, put the best massage guns to the test and here's what she thought:

"During the lockdown, I've been a bit lax when it comes to my fitness regime. Yeah, I've done the occasional dance routine in my bedroom and daily yoga stretch, but that's about it. Heading back to the gym is a bit of a daunting thought because I suffer from really bad back pain. I had a car accident a few years ago and my shoulder/lower back hasn't been the same since.

"After using the Theragun Mini I've seen some AMAZING improvements, like not having to wear a back brace to feel comfortable while working from home. That said, I was intimidated by this bit of kit at first because it was so powerful (up to 2400 percussions per minute to be exact). Once I'd overcome this, I was able to apply the massager to areas that were sore and stiff - feeling great for it afterwards.

"Although I'm taking it easy back at the gym, I can feel the difference it has on my legs and arms. I've even built it into my routine when doing yoga in my garden. So, is a massage gun worth it? Absolutely. It fits in my gym bag effortlessly, it's made significant improvements in my working from home situation and it's a handy tool to stop my legs from feeling like jelly after exercising. Oh, it's also relaxing to put on the bottom of my feet before bed."

Tried and tested by Commercial Content Editor, Adam Binnie: "While this isn't technically a massage gun, it works very well in combination with one, particularly if you suffer from sore knees from an injury or overuse.

"In my case despite swapping running for cycling to save what remained of my prematurely aged joints, I still get pain in my knees from time to time. Annoyingly, while a massage gun is great for loosening up the muscles around my knee, neither it nor a sports massage can reach the discomfort I experience in the joint itself.

"This Hydragun Knee Massager uses both heat and gentle vibration to relieve pain - and the buzz hones in on a spot I cannot target with a percussive massager (I've tried and always end up whacking my kneecap, making everything worse) and the warmth finds it way so deep it feels like it's warming my bones.

"The material is soft and comfortable against your skin, and held in place securely with hook and loop straps, so it's easy to get a tailor-made fit. Additionally it can be strapped to elbows and, by using the supplied strap, your shoulders too, which is an additional benefit.

"Like most things it's charged via a USB-C cable, and when topped up promises 30 mins of treatment on each knee. You'd have to be feeling particularly flush to afford one for each leg though, as the price may get in the way of this. That's my only complaint really - it's a lot more expensive than simply wrapping a hot towel around your knee. But then again, it's also a lot more effective."

Key specs: Temperature: 5 settings, 40-60°C, Massage: 3 speeds, 80-100Hz, Battery: 60-90 mins

"Myo Master took me by surprise. Compared to the Theragun Mini, you get not one massager head but eight head options that provide a different function. What I like most about this device is that there are five different speed settings to choose from. If I'm feeling sore from working out, I'll opt for a slower speed. Although I love the case that this percussion massager comes in, it's way too big to fit in my gym bag, so I'll be using it strictly for home workouts only.

A good thing to know before purchasing is that it does have a bit of a plastic smell, which personally doesn't bother me. Also when changing the massage heads, don't be afraid to wiggle them in - I was delicate at first, but this machine is pretty robust and can handle it. This gets a big thumbs up from me."

SHOP: The best massage guns to stop you aching from the gym

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Zapping ourselves after our dedicated gym slot isn't the only way to stop our bodies from stiffening up.

Catherine Quinn, President of the British Chiropractic Association (BCA), said, "Looking after our spines and overall back health is essential.

"Our central nervous system runs through our spine and reaches every part of our body, from our fingers to our toes, so you can almost think of it as our anchor or foundation. Our spines provide support and protection for our entire body, so when it’s happy and healthy it helps keep everything running smoothly."

Catherine went onto add, "It also means that if something goes wrong, it can have a big impact on our health and wellbeing."

You don't have to practice yoga everyday to get the benefits either, Catherine has provided five simple steps to help keep your spine happy and healthy:

1. Take a stand: Inactivity is the biggest cause of backpain. As you're spending more time sitting down in your home office, make sure to take regular breaks - around every 20 to 30 minutes. All you need to do is stand up and walk around a little.

2. Stretch it out: Can't get a break from all those emails? Try stretching in your seat - a good way to do this is by shrugging your shoulders.

3. Get active: You don't have to hit the gym everyday to stay healthy, going for a walk on your lunch break can have a huge benefit to your posture.

4. Evaluate your workspace: Make sure your home workspace supports a comfortable seating position. This is different for everyone, so alter your chair or screen until it feels right.

5. Straighten up: There's loads of exercises that you can incorporate into your daily routine to improve balance and flexibility in the spine.

We're off to do some quick bridge exercises, stat.