So, what areas should you avoid, and are some places off-limits ``You want to ensure to stay away from bony areas like the ankles, collarbones, hands and tops of the feet, visible blood vessels on the surface of the skin, sensitive nerves, and ribs/ organs,'' Wheeldon says.
Always do your best to vibrate the massager only over muscles. Avoid joints and bones, especially if you have any type of arthritis. It's never a good idea to use a massage gun directly over any part of the spine, Fredericson adds, including the neck.
Do not use a massage gun on areas where your skin has cuts or rashes, since the tool could cause further irritation. Do not use a massage gun on areas where you have an injury, torn muscle, pain, swelling, or any similar concern. Avoid using a massage gun on a bony area.
Long-term vibrations are known to cause neurovascular diseases, which are common in workers who operate handheld power tools or motor vehicles. Understanding the neuropathology of vibration-induced nerve injury is critical to its prevention and treatment.
Massage guns can be used all over the body to target specific areas of muscle pain, including pain in the back, legs, and neck.
These are areas of the body where deep, sustained pressure should be avoided because of the structures that lie beneath. Those areas are the anterior and posterior triangles of the neck, suprasternal notch, sternum, axilla, spinal column, umbilical area, inguinal triangle, popliteal fossa, and the antecubital fossa.
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.
In terms of effectiveness, muscle massage guns have been shown to be highly effective in treating muscle knots. One study published in the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine found that using a massage gun for just one minute on each trigger point led to significant reductions in pain and discomfort.
In rare cases when a massage is applied too hard or if a preexisting injury exists in the neck, massage can lead to serious complications, such as vertebral artery damage and stroke. To experience the soothing effects of a neck massage, most people do not need the massage to be vigorous.
According to sports therapist Willum Ogden, head of medical at Flow Recovery, this stimulation of the nerves promotes several things, including increased blood flow and lymphatic drainage, which can contribute to an increase in muscle flexibility and joint mobility.
The back is one of the most requested areas in any massage. It's where many people carry stress, tension, and discomfort from sitting, standing, or physical activity. Therapists focus on the upper, middle, and lower back to release tightness and improve mobility. The neck and shoulders are another high-tension zone.
Overall, massage guns may be a useful option for managing the symptoms of nerve pain, including pinched nerves in the neck and sciatica.
Vibration can cause changes in tendons, muscles, bones and joints, and can affect the nervous system. Collectively, these effects are known as hand-arm vibration syndrome. Workers affected by hand-arm vibration syndrome commonly report: attacks of whitening (blanching) of one or more fingers when exposed to cold.
Vibration syndrome has adverse circulatory and neural effects in the fingers. The signs and symptoms include numbness, pain, and blanching (turning pale and ashen). Of particular concern is evidence of advanced stages of vibration syndrome after exposures as short as one year.
A few minutes on a vibration platform can relieve chronic pain, allow tensed muscles to relax, and calm nerves that are irritated due to compression. The powerful vibrations work on tendons, ligaments, muscles, and discs all at the same time.
If you have a herniated disc or low back pain that radiates down one or both of your legs (also known as sciatica), a massage gun may help with the pain, numbness, and tingling that many people experience.
Apart from the injuries we have listed above, it's not recommended to use a percussion massager on injuries like sprains, broken bones, or large areas of swelling or bruising. Chronic pain conditions like hypertension, varicose veins, rheumatoid arthritis, and others could become worse if you use a massage gun.