4 days ago
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The best massagers should be as accessible as your morning coffee—not a luxury you save for special occasions. Between workouts, work stress, and the existential crisis that is life, who isn't carrying tension somewhere? I've spent countless hours trying every type of massager out there. Testing these contraptions might sound like the dream gig, but it's not all bliss. Some felt like a personal massage therapist. Others like they were designed to tenderize meat. A few made me question every life choice that led to this moment.
The good news? I've rounded up the best massagers for every body and budget. Ones that actually deliver on their promises to soothe, stimulate, and shiatsu. Let's get into our top picks—before I need a massager to recover from testing all these massagers. Read our Best Theraguns and Therabody Tools and Everything You Need for Your Yoga Practice guides for more wellness recommendations.
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Massage guns can relieve soreness, but they also increase blood flow for faster muscle recovery. Jacklyn Plonski, an outpatient orthopedic and pediatric physical therapist, likens percussive therapy devices to using a foam roller or getting a professional physical therapy treatment. Here's what she has to say:
"As we exercise and challenge our muscles, we cause breakdown within the muscle fibers, which in turn stimulates muscle growth and regrowth, hypertrophy (increased muscle size), and strength. Mechanical stimulation of a muscle causes increased blood flow and the release of histamines to the stimulated area. What this does is allow the increased blood flow to decrease the inflammatory response, decrease muscle soreness, and break up knots in athletes' musculature."
Plonksi says there are no apparent negative effects, but she recommends people always talk to a physician before trying a device.
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English (US) ·