Does Theragun break up knots?

Author: Bruce Considine  |  Last update: Wednesday, June 4, 2025

It increases blood flow and the release of histamines to the stimulated area to decrease the inflammatory response, decrease muscle soreness, and breaks up muscle knots. The company Theragun has been renamed Therabody, but its devices are still called Theragun.

Does Theragun get rid of 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.

Can massage guns work out knots?

In recent years, massage guns have grown in popularity as a type of do-it-yourself massage to ease sore muscles and work out any knots. This can be beneficial if soreness is keeping you from staying active. With relief, you can get back to all the activities you enjoy.

How do you dissolve a muscle knot?

1. Heat: applying heat to an area causes capillaries to dilate, thereby promoting more blood flow into that area. Increasing blood flow to a muscle can be an effective means of getting knots to release. 2. Stretching: muscle knots are areas of the muscle that fail to fully relax/elongate.

Can massage break up muscle knots?

Massage therapy techniques can help to relieve, reduce or even prevent muscle knots. Deep tissue massage or sports massage techniques work on the muscles that are tight or have the knots. Trigger point massage can be firm and specific pressure to the areas of restriction or “knots” and cause release of that knot.

12 Rules For Massaging Away Knots, Muscle Strains, or Tendonitis

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.

Can massaging too hard cause damage?

In rare cases, deep tissue massage can lead to nerve damage. This usually happens when too much pressure is applied near a nerve or when a nerve is compressed for an extended period. If you experience numbness, tingling, or sharp pain during your massage, speak up right away.

How do you get rid of a knot ASAP?

Best Treatments for a Muscle Knot
  1. Get a massage. Ah, the soothing relief of a massage. ...
  2. Use a foam roller. Foam rollers allow you to perform self-massage by making tight muscles looser. ...
  3. Try a massage gun. ...
  4. Ask a physical therapist about dry needling. ...
  5. Stretch. ...
  6. Use ice or heat. ...
  7. Try acupuncture.

How do you self release a muscle knot?

Johnson shares these tips for treating and preventing muscle knots:
  1. Use heat and/or ice to treat a sore muscle. ...
  2. Get a massage. ...
  3. Apply pressure to trigger points. ...
  4. Use self-massage tools. ...
  5. Don't forget to stretch. ...
  6. Stick a needle in it. ...
  7. Give it time.

Is it good to pop muscle knots?

It can help loosen up the muscles and reduce the tension in the knot. Trigger Point Massage – During this type of massage a therapist will begin to apply pressure and stretch the muscle knot to release (a.k.a pop) it. You may experience minor discomfort, but long-term relief during this technique.

Where not to use a 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.

Does a TENS unit get rid of knots?

TENS machines can help with pain relief and easing the muscle tension, but they won't get rid of muscle knots entirely especially if the underlying causes of your muscle tension are things like stress or bad posture and they aren't addressed properly.

Does Theragun replace foam rolling?

A: A foam roller may be more beneficial for those targeting a larger area of the body, and for those looking for a gentler treatment modality. A Theragun may be more useful for targeting small and harder-to-reach muscle groups or areas, or for those looking for a deeper and/or more intense massage treatment.

Can Theragun break up fascia?

While massage guns can aid in overall muscle relaxation and may help with some superficial fascial issues, their effectiveness in breaking down deeper fascial adhesions is unclear. The rapid percussion might not penetrate deeply enough to impact significant adhesions.

Do massage guns release muscle knots?

With proper use and caution, muscle massage guns can be an effective tool for managing muscle knots and improving overall quality of life.

Can you overdo a massage gun?

Don't overdo it.

Experts advise not to use a massage gun for more than 10 to 15 minutes and to avoid concentrating on a specific area for more than one to two minutes per session. Using your massage gun for too long can be counterproductive, resulting in soreness, increased tightness, and bruising.

Can you dissolve a muscle knot?

Softly working the affected areas with your hands can be incredibly beneficial for reducing muscle knots. A specific kind of massage therapy called myofascial release therapy relies on constant, deep, gentle pressure to help release the tension and break up some of those constricted tissues in localized areas.

Why are muscle knots crunchy?

Potential Causes of Crunchy Muscles

These knots are areas of muscle fibers that have become tightly contracted and can feel like small, firm lumps within the muscle. When you press on them or move the muscle, they might produce a sensation akin to crunchiness.

How long does it take to massage a knot out?

Some require deep tissue work and trigger point therapy which requires a sustained held position and slow movement to release. This can last anywhere from 5-10 minutes per knot depending on the body's holding patterns. Others require sports massage or even a gentler relaxation approach which may seem counter intuitive.

Why is my neck full of knots?

Accidents, weak neck muscles, stress, or poor posture can all lead to neck pain. Muscle knots are usually muscle spasms that cause your muscles to tense from repetitive movements. Two common reasons for knots in your neck come from stress and bad habits like bending over your devices.

Does cupping help with knots?

Cross fiber friction, trigger point release and myofacial release techniques are great for breaking down those knots. Another modality that is great for these "knots" is cupping. Cupping is a technique of creating a suction in a cup that is applied to the tissue.

Why is my pee dark after a massage?

Your urine may become darker and smelly due to the stimulation of the kidneys. Your urination frequency may also increase throughout the day because your body is ridding itself of all the excess toxins. Lastly, you may feel sore and fatigued following your session.

Can massaging a tight muscle make it worse?

If your muscles were particularly tense or knotted before the massage, the manipulation could lead to soreness as those knots are worked out. Individual sensitivity. Everyone's body reacts differently to massage. Some people might be more sensitive and experience soreness even with a gentle massage.

What are three instances when massage is not recommended?

Tell the therapist if you have these conditions

Contagious skin conditions (boils, warts, or herpes) Other skin conditions (burns, rashes, or sores) Circulatory system issues (high blood pressure, varicose veins, or stroke) Digestive system issues (ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, or colitis)

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