Massage Gun Benefits: What Research Actually Supports

Massage guns are popular, but popularity is not evidence. Here's a conservative summary of what a 2023 systematic review found.

Range of motion and flexibility

The review reported that massage guns could improve short-term range of motion and flexibility in some studied muscle groups.

Recovery-related outcomes

Some included studies reported improvements in stiffness, range of motion or strength after fatigue protocols, while other measures showed no difference.

Performance is not automatically improved

The review did not find consistent improvements in strength, balance, acceleration, agility or explosive activity, and some outcomes decreased.

Important limitations

Only 11 studies were included; ten had moderate risk of bias and one had high risk. Devices, frequencies, body areas and protocols varied.

What this means for shoppers

Evidence about massage guns in general should not be transformed into a guaranteed claim about a particular product. Use research as context, not a promise.