Does a massage gun remove lactic acid?

Author: Gail Kuvalis DVM  |  Last update: Friday, January 9, 2026

Reduced soreness after exercise Lactic acid builds up in your muscles after exercise or other activity. This build-up often causes pain and soreness. When you use a massage gun after a workout, the percussion forces muscle fibers to release lactic acid, reducing the soreness you'll feel.

Do massage guns break up cellulite?

Massage Therapy and Cellulite

Massage guns may prove a viable, safe alternative to many surgeries for breaking up cellulite in the affected areas. So while research is limited, what you need to know is that massage guns probably do help with cellulite, given the way they affect skin lesions and muscle tissue.

Is it bad to use a massage gun on a strained muscle?

Massage guns on injured and inflamed connective tissue can further damage the structure and increase inflammation. For example, use on a torn ligament, like an ankle sprain, could injure it further.

Do massage guns break up muscle knots?

A massage gun repeatedly loosens the knots, improving blood supply and decreasing inflammation and tension in joints and muscles. Improved blood circulation means more blood and oxygen for the affected muscle parts, relaxing them and breaking up the troubling muscles' knots.

Is it good to massage your stomach with a massage gun?

It's perfectly safe to use a massage gun on your abdomen and relieve your muscles with percussive massage. As is the case with other body parts, you have to be careful while using it. Avoid holding a gun in a static position for more than a few seconds and move it around in a small radius in one area instead.

Does massage flush toxins? What about lactic acid?

Do massage guns help with lactic acid buildup?

Benefits of Massage Guns

Decreasing muscle pain and tension. Reducing lactic acid buildup that causes muscle soreness. Improving flexibility. Improving lymphatic flow, which helps to rid your body of toxins and support your immune system.

Can a massage gun break up belly fat?

Can a massage gun break down fat? The short answer is NO. There is no reliable evidence that shows massage guns can break down fat cells on their own. However…

Do massage guns release toxins?

Massage guns help to get rid of those toxins, which promotes quicker muscle recovery. Massage guns are beneficial when you use them on yourself. Yes, you could have a trainer do it for you, but by using them on yourself, you will know exactly where your trouble areas are, and you can help your healing that much better.

Can you actually massage knots out?

Trigger point massage can be firm and specific pressure to the areas of restriction or “knots” and cause release of that knot. Effleurage massage after a workout or strengthening exercises can prevent or reduce the tightness or restriction that one may feel.

What are the disadvantages of a massage gun?

Massage Gun Safety
  • Massage guns aren't ideal for sprains or strains because they may be too intense. ...
  • Overusing the device can put too much stress on fascia and muscles and may cause an injury.
  • The device puts pressure on muscles, but the pressure you apply could put too much force on an area.

Why does pressing on sore muscles feel good?

The chemical release caused by rubbing the skin plays a significant role in easing your pain. When the therapist places pressure on your skin, it stimulates the vagus nerve. This sensory nerve releases a chemical cocktail of wellness into your bloodstream.

Does a massage gun break up fascia?

It vibrates to help blood, oxygen and nutrients flow into the muscles, which can promote healing and faster recovery after a workout. Massage guns can also break up the tissue around the muscles (muscle fascia). This tissue can tighten up when it's stressed, which can lead to muscle stiffness or soreness.

Can you use a massage gun for lymphatic drainage?

Massage gun therapy has the potential to stimulate lymph nodes which in turn may help circulate the lymphatic fluids to areas of the body where they are needed. Your lymphatic system includes several lymph nodes that are placed throughout various areas of the human body.

Can a massage gun help loose skin?

These devices have become increasingly popular among fitness enthusiasts and athletes for their ability to relieve muscle soreness and improve recovery time. However, recent studies have suggested that muscle massage guns may also be effective in reducing the appearance of cellulite.

Why does cellulite hurt when massaged?

The overall theory is that it's possible to manipulate the skin by physically spreading the pockets of fat cells evenly under the skin. As you can imagine, it would take a great amount of pressure to redistribute fat under the skin. Because of this many woman find cellulite massages to be pretty painful.

Can you vibrate cellulite away?

A significant decrease in cellulite grade was observed after a series of treatments. The strongest effects were observed for the sitting position with a treatment time of 60 min. Conclusion: Vibration treatment improves microcirculation in cellulite-affected areas.

What does it feel like when a knot releases?

This myofascial release has a comparable sensation to being rocked by your mother when you were a baby. It causes a pleasant wave sensation to travel throughout the body. It is, in fact, a relaxing experience. That wave infiltrates the restricted areas to allow for softening.

What are the crunchy knots in my back?

Muscle knots (or myofascial trigger points) are muscle fibers that stick to each other instead of remaining flexible, which causes them to contract and tighten into lumps. These knots can form anywhere but are most common around your lower back.

Why do muscles pop during massage?

Trigger points, or muscle knots, are hyperirritable spots within a taut band of skeletal muscle. The pressure applied during therapy can cause these points to release, sometimes resulting in a popping sound.

Do massage guns break up lactic acid?

Lactic acid builds up in your muscles after exercise or other activity. This build-up often causes pain and soreness. When you use a massage gun after a workout, the percussion forces muscle fibers to release lactic acid, reducing the soreness you'll feel.

Where not to use massage gun?

And to use massage guns safely, people should avoid the following areas on their body, Krzyzanowicz said:
  • Neck.
  • Eyes.
  • Directly over the heart.
  • Inner groin.
  • Directly behind the knee.
  • Reproductive organs.
  • Areas with decreased sensitivity, such as something that's numb from surgery.

What are the metabolic wastes after massage?

By releasing a variety of toxins — from metabolic wastes like lactic acid and urea to stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline — massage provides a plethora of health benefits that extend well beyond simple relaxation.

Can a massage gun help with cellulite?

Cellulite is a common problem for many women; however, there are ways to combat it. Massage guns use vibration technology to increase blood flow and lymphatic drainage in your skin, which may help reduce the appearance of cellulite. It's important to note that percussion therapy is not a guaranteed long term solution.

Can a massage gun replace stretching?

Conclusion. Percussion massage had an acute positive effect on hamstring flexibility and ROM, and it was as effective as static stretching. Therefore, percussion massage devices are recommended as part of pre-exercise in a structured warm-up for increase in joint range of motion and flexibility.

Is it bad to use a massage gun on your abs?

While it is possible to use a massage gun on your belly, it is generally not recommended as the abdomen contains many vital organs and delicate structures that could be harmed by the intense pressure and vibrations of a massage gun.

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