Do you really know how to use a massage gun?

Massage gun is a very popular and easy-to-use exercise to relax, relieve pain, and massage the muscles. However, many people don't know the correct way to use the massage gun. They think that just use the massage gun to massage the sore muscles. In fact, this is not the case. There are many precautions for the use of the massage gun. Sometimes improper use can cause muscle or fascia damage.

1. Follow the guidance of professionals

  For those who have more serious damage or disease to their muscles, they should consult a professional doctor, rehabilitation specialist or professional coach before use.

2. The parts where the massage gun  should not be used

  Not all parts of the body are suitable for use with a massage gun.

(1) Head

   In addition to the facial features and the brain, the head is also densely covered with a large number of blood vessels, nerves and acupuncture points. These are sensitive and fragile places. Besides the protective bones of the head, there is no thick fat and muscles that can delay the impact and protect the brain. Therefore, It is forbidden to hit the head with a fascial gun.

(2) Side of neck

   This location is densely covered with blood vessels and nerves. In addition, the carotid sinus is located, and its position is relatively superficial, and it is quite sensitive to external mechanical compression. A little carelessness will produce cardiovascular reflexes, which will cause the brain to be insufficient or interrupted in the blood supply. Individual users may even experience extreme conditions such as fainting and cardiac arrest. Therefore, it is forbidden to massage the side of the neck by direct hits. It is recommended to use stretching to relax this position.

(3) Inside the clavicle

   The shoulder is where we are often sore. It is a good way to use a massage gun to relieve and relax the shoulder. It is possible to hit the trapezius muscle from the back, but you cannot hit the position inside the clavicle in the front. This position has thin muscles and less fat, and is the channel through which the cervical spine emits the brachial plexus, and there is also a large artery, so it is forbidden to massage this area with a massage gun.

(4) Under the armpits and the inside of the forearm

   This is an important position of the brachial plexus. It also requires a lot of nerve tissue, and it is also weak and sensitive.

(5) Where the bones bulge

   It is not recommended to use a massage gun to massage the spine, ankle, elbow joint, coccyx and other bone protruding parts or joint parts, as it is easy to damage the joint parts and bones.

(6) Knee and surrounding

   The knee is the most prone place for sports injuries, but it is not recommended to use it on or around the knee. There is a common peroneal nerve around the head of the fibula on the lateral side of the knee joint, and in the posterior fossa of the knee, there are the popliteal artery, tibial nerve, and common peroneal nerve.

3. The correct use of the massage gun

(1) Follow the texture and direction of the muscle: You can find the relevant muscle texture map on the Internet to learn about the texture direction of the muscle, and massage according to the general direction of the muscle. For example, the chest muscles are horizontal, and the leg muscles are vertical.

(2) Appropriate force: There is no need to use excessive force when using the massage gun, so that the massage gun can withstand the muscles, generate resonance, and enhance the penetration and massage effect.

(3) Move slowly: Do not stay in the same position for too long, stay for 3-5 minutes at most, and then move slowly along the texture and direction of the muscles, with a certain thrust.

(4) Choose suitable massage heads for different parts:

Ball-type Head: It mainly targets the large muscle groups of the body, such as the body's pectoralis major, deltoid, latissimus dorsi, buttocks and muscles on the thigh, muscles on the calf, triceps, and quadriceps And other parts are suitable for deep fascia relaxation with a spherical massage head.

Flat head: The flat tip design enlarges the contact surface, which is suitable for the relaxation of various muscle parts. At the same time, the special flat design can play the effect of muscle plasticity and shape the lines while massaging.

Tower-shaped head: The tower-shaped design plays a role in buffering vibration, which is suitable for sensitive muscles or parts with slight pain. At the same time, when relaxing massage for the elderly at home, you can give priority to air cushion head to slow down the vibration.

U-shaped head: This is a special massage head designed for sensitive areas such as the spine and Achilles tendon. Because these muscles are located on both sides of the bone, it is easy to hit the bones with a large area of massage head. The special U-shaped design, Avoiding the sensitive bones in the middle, it precisely acts on the muscles on both sides.

Cylindrical head: Suitable for impacting deep tissues, such as meridians, palms, and soles. The finger-shaped head stimulates more than the cylindrical head.