9 best massage guns to relieve sore muscles from aches and pains

Having a weekly massage is the ultimate luxury. However, few of us have the time and budget to treat ourselves (and our muscles) to a regular trip to a salon or physio. So, it’s not surprising the popularity of massage guns has boomed, especially during lockdown when appointments outside the home were impossible.

These handheld gadgets generally resemble a hairdryer and use percussive therapy to pound and pummel the muscle that needs attention. This promotes blood flow to the area, eases tension and knots and reduces inflammation, making them ideal if you get stiff at the end of a long day or suffer from delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) after working out.

There are other benefits too. It’s possible to use a massage gun before exercising to help warm up the body and improve performance, and they can reduce the risk of injury during a workout. Some users have even reported better sleep, decreased pain and increased mobility, though anyone with long-term or chronic issues or high blood pressure should always consult a doctor or physiotherapist before use.

Luckily, they’re also very easy to use. Switch the gun on at the lowest setting and move it over the muscles you want to target, such as the biceps, thighs or glutes. Use it for no more than 30 seconds to start with, to make sure it doesn’t cause soreness, and work up to using it for up to two minutes on