Theragun Elite : What Is Percussive Therapy And Does It Work?
Is the new Theragun* Elite a game changer for recovery? Even if you’re not a fitness fanatic you’ll no doubt have heard of the Theragun but if not, in short, its a smart massage gun that is often seen in the hands of elite sportspeople and athletes who claim it is a TOTAL game changer for training and recovery.
Now, I’m neither of those things but I am partial to a workout or two and as someone who doesn’t do nearly enough in the way of stretching and recovery, I was super excited and keen to give the new Theragun Elite a go.
However, before I give you the lowdown, I thought I’d take a bit of time to explain what percussive therapy is and go through the features of the device.
So, What Is Percussive Therapy?
‘Percussion’ is a method within the realm of soft tissue therapy. It is basically rapid movement of the hands creating different shapes to create a vibration effect in the tissue. The tissue in the body responds to different types of pressure so the overall aim is to improve blood flow, flexibility, mobility, general freedom of movement and recovery by breaking down byproducts that sit in the way.
Think Swedish massage but from the comfort of your own home [I use the word comfort v. loosely here!]
Device Features.
The latest generation of the Theragun device is similar to other models but, it now connects to the Therabody app where you can find routines designed to help support and target different areas.
There are routines for sleep, lengthening, alignment issues and targeted areas such as the glutes. These routines can last anywhere from 45 seconds to 10 minutes.
This is one of the aspects I liked the most because it gives you a super simple guide to work through. It tells you about the muscles you’re targeting, how long to work on them for and how much pressure to apply. And let me tell you, it feels really great on aching or tight muscles!
Before and/or after a workout, it’s so easy to grab the gun and work through a 5-10 minute routine. Of course this can also be done with a foam roller, but lets be honest, the likelihood of that is pretty low. Plus, the feeling of rolling out a tight calf or neck is amazing!
The device runs 75% quieter than previous models and is no louder than an electric toothbrush. It also has twice the battery life lasting around 120 minutes!
Not only this, but it includes an ergonomic multi-grip handle, custom speed selection, Bluetooth connectivity, and a screen to display speed. It also comes with 5 attachments.
- Dampener – for areas near bones
- Standard Ball – for overall use
- Wedge – for shoulder blades and IT bands
- Thumb – for lower back
- Cone – for pinpoint muscle treatment
The Elite is strong enough to handle all of the larger leg muscles, and you can self-treat very easily! The cone attachment is fab for knots in the quads, while the dampener feels better on the calves/ shin area.
I’ve been struggling with really painful shin splints recently and I really do think this is going to be a game-changer in terms of recovery.
My Verdict?
If you’re looking for quite possibly the best massage gun with the most innovative features, look no further because this is the one for you. It integrates with Apple Health, iOS and android, has a brilliant battery life and comes in a neat compact case that makes it so easy to carry with you whenever you go.
Challenge yourself and commit to stretching and releasing your muscles. You’ll be so surprised how much better you’ll feel in next to no time at all.
Click here to shop the full range.
Amy xo.
I was very kindly gifted the new Theragun Elite but as ever, all views are my own and honest of my personal experiences. I would never openly ‘promote’ a product I don’t genuinely use or believe in.
* Theragun has recently rebranded to Thermabody but at the time of writing this review, the name change hadn’t been confimed.
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