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Massage guns (a.k.a. the grown-up cousin of the foam roller) have taken the wellness scene by storm, with brands like Therabody (previously Theragun) seen in the hands of elite athletes and celeb gym bunnies.

Granted, they sit at the pricier end of the spectrum for fitness equipment, but the demand for said muscle guns isn't slowing down, and from the more premium brands to the cheaper alternatives, the massage gun market is getting busier by the minute. Don't believe us? Therabody celebrated its five-year anniversary this year, proving that the tech is much more than a passing fad. So without further ado, here's everything you need to know about massage guns, including why you (genuinely) need one in your life.

The Women’s Health Lab has put some of the top massage guns in the shops to the test to bring you its favourites for banishing post-workout pains. The Women’s Health editors have also chipped in, sharing their pick of the 10 massage guns that help them soothe sore muscles.

Much like going for a massage, a muscle gun helps to reduce inflammation by flushing out your muscle tissues of the fluids built up by exercise and daily bodily stress. They use percussive therapy – repeated strikes to help relax muscle tension and alleviate soreness, which, if you suffer from regular DOMs (delayed onset muscle soreness) can be a real lifesaver. And whether they work? Our expert has put this to the test!

Use in a similar way that you would a foam roller; either before exercise to activate muscles and increase blood flow, or after to release tension and prevent DOMS – muscle guns are the piece of kit your body will thank you for.

Or, simply when you feel your shoulders creeping up towards your ears and tension setting in.

Try to keep the head straight onto the body as you work, the face of the muscle gun head or attachment should be in contact with the muscle you're trying to massage.

Muscle guns and foam rollers are both ways of performing massage on yourself at home. Which one you use depends on which part of the body you are trying to target, as well as your specific needs. Massage guns are best for use on larger areas such as lower back, glutes and hamstrings.

They also work better on targeted muscle groups where you are experiencing soreness, as you can adjust the settings to cater for your individual needs. Foam rollers can be effective for pre and post workout recovery but cannot be adjusted in the same way.

Cheap massage guns are a bit of a mixed bag, but you can save serious coin and get a similar result – if you manage to find an affordable muscle gun that doesn't skimp on tech or design.

Most cheap massage guns tend to have harder attachment heads (which make for a more uncomfortable experience), a shorter battery life or are less durable. If there's the choice between a cheap muscle gun and a more expensive massage gun that's on sale, we'd always suggest going with the one that looks like it'll last the longest and is the most specced out. If it comes with a warranty, even better.

The muscle guns below with our Women’s Health Lab Approved logo have been put to the test in the Women’s Health Lab. Our expert tester has trialled them over a three week period, using them around their hectic exercise schedule — made up of weightlifting, running, HIIT, yoga and more — to see how well each one helped muscles to recover.

These massage guns were judged on overall effectiveness, as well as how well they could glide over muscles, how easy they were to control, the practicality of their design, and their strength. Bonus points were also on offer for any innovative features or smart additions like carry cases. All other entries have been personally selected by our editors.

We don’t usually like our fitness kit to blow hot and cold, but we’ll make an exception here. This HoMedics massage gun can heat up to 47C in less than two minutes, helping promote blood flow to prime targeted muscles.

However, if you’re looking to cool down, you can swap the interchangeable heads and use the cold head instead. After a few hours in the freezer, this will provide a completely different experience, helping soothe aching muscles after a serious squat session.

Our expert loved this innovative feature, and the array of other attachments this massage gun boasts. They also praised the massage gun for being surprisingly quiet and gliding smoothly over skin without snagging.

Key specifications Sizes: 1 Colours: 1 Weight: 914g Amplitude: 10mm Speed settings: 3 Battery life: 1.5 hours Warranty: Returns of merchandise purchased from the website may be made within 30 days of receipt for a full refund of cost of the merchandise. Included accessories: Six interchangeable heads (barrel head, cold head, ball head, arrow head, heat head and smoothing head) and storage case

The clever design of this massage gun — with its long, curved handle — meant our expert was able to reach even the most awkward sore spots. It’s incredibly powerful and we found it was effective at lessening post-workout pains. The inclusion of four interchangeable massage heads, a carry case and recovery massage oil was appreciated too.

It is a bit bulky and heavy, and the handle vibrates a bit too much for our liking when it’s on full power, meaning it wasn’t the most comfortable to use. But the ability to link it to Musclegun’s Deep app, which provides guidance on how to use it, is handy for newcomers to the massage gun world.

Key specifications Sizes: 1 Colours: 1 Weight: Not given Amplitude: 10mm Speed settings: 5 Battery life: Up to 5 hours Warranty: 2 years Included accessories: 4 massage heads, charger, recovery massage oil, carry case

If it’s bang for your buck you’re after... we got you. With a choice of five massage heads, this lightweight yet effective massage gun has many of the features you’d expect from luxe models, but comes in at around £100.

It moved quickly and smoothly over our skin, working fast to target any DOMS hotspots without causing any discomfort. The handle vibrates quite a lot, which was a bit of a nuisance, and the translated instructions could be a bit hit and miss. But, when it comes to value for money, this massage gun is top of the charts.

Key specifications Sizes: 1 Colours: 2 Weight: 0.68kg Amplitude: 9mm Speed settings: 5, from 1800 to 3200ppm Battery life: Up to 6 hours Warranty: None Included accessories: 5 massage heads, USB charging cable, carry case

Whether it’s travelling for team sports, track sessions, gym trips or otherwise, if you’re always on the go then this is the massage gun for you (it even comes with a nifty pouch). Word to the wise though, make sure it’s fully juiced before you head out as the charger doesn’t fit in the carry case.

The unique, compact triangular design of the handle means it’ll easily slip into a bag or bigger pocket, though it did make it a bit trickier to grip than other models. And our expert said they “couldn’t emphasize enough how powerful it is”, in spite of its smaller size, giving it top scores for relaxation and relieving soreness.

Key specifications Sizes: 1 Colours: 3 Weight: 0.65g Amplitude: 12mm Speed settings: 3, from 1750 to 2400rpm Battery life: Up to 2.5 hours Warranty: 1 year Included accessories: Charger, carry case

So, the endless squats and glute bridges are paying off and your booty gains are well under way. Great news! Climbing a steep set of stairs the day after a high volume session can be a painful prospect though! Luckily, this super strong massage gun is more than powerful enough to soothe your biggest muscle (trust us, your glutes will thank you).

This power does come at a small price — it was quite noisy and weighed heavily in our hand when using it for longer stints — but the overall effectiveness was impressive. It’s a bit pricey too, but if you like to take your training seriously then we think it’s a worthy investment.

Key specifications Sizes: 1 Colours: 1 Weight: 1,361g Amplitude: Not given Speed settings: 3 Battery life: 2.5 hours Warranty: One year Included accessories: Five interchangeable heads (fork head, ball head, cushion head, flat head and bullet head), attachment pouch, cable and 24 volt charger.

Like an itch you just can’t scratch, an aching back can be hard to remedy. But, thanks to the Theragun PRO’s clever handle and moveable arm, there are no sore spots this massage gun can’t reach.

It comes with six interchangeable massage heads and can connect to the Therabody app. This can suggest guided routines to help soothe your sore muscles and sends these to your device via Bluetooth, providing directions and remotely adjusting the speed to take any guesswork out of your recovery sessions. It’s called PRO for a reason though, and the price reflects this, so this is definitely one for those chasing peak performance.

Key specifications Sizes: 1 Colours: 2 Weight: 1.3kg Amplitude: 16mm Speed settings: 5, from 1750 to 2400ppm, plus app-controlled customisable speed range Battery life: Up to 5 hours (split between two batteries) Warranty: 2 years Included accessories: 6 massage heads, charger, carry case

First things first, if this one's caught your eye, we've got good news: we've teamed up with Pulseroll to bring you an exclusive 20% discount and free shipping with the code RECOVERY20 until 1 June 2022. That means you'll save almost £25.

‘Small but mighty’ is a fitting way to describe it. Despite its pocket-sized design, it packs quite a punch, so we’d only recommend it to those looking to give their muscles a serious seeing to.

It comes with four massage heads, though our expert said these felt a bit cheaply made, and the lack of instructions felt like an oversight. The Pulseroll Mini picked up plenty of points for its staggering battery life, however, offering six hours of use before it runs out of juice.

Key specifications Sizes: 1 Colours: 1 Weight: 0.6kg Amplitude: 8mm Speed settings: 4, from 1500 to 3000rpm Battery life: Up to 6 hours Warranty: 1 year Included accessories: 4 massage heads, USB charging cable, carry case

It’s safe to say that Therabody knows its way around a massage gun, and this model is no different. It made short work of our lactic-filled legs after hard workouts thanks to its enhanced 16mm amplitude, and our expert said they could feel the benefits for days afterwards.

The Therabody app was incredibly helpful, telling you where to massage and how much pressure to apply, and the wide range of options gave us plenty of control without being complicated. As with the Theragun PRO, its slightly pricier cousin, it was very noisy. But when it comes to soothing muscles, there are few that can go toe to toe with the Elite.

Key specifications Sizes: 1 Colours: 3 Weight: 1kg Amplitude: 16mm Speed settings: 5, from 1750 to 2400ppm, plus app-controlled customisable speed range Battery life: Up to 2 hours Warranty: 1 year Included accessories: 5 massage heads, charger, carry case

As we said in the intro, cheap massage guns can be a mixed bag, but this Snailax model is definitely one of the good ones. It’s effective, quiet, comes with a good range of massage heads and, crucially, you’ll get change from £60.

Don’t expect the premium feel of other luxe products, and our expert warned the weighty handle felt a bit off-balance in their hand. But it still does everything you’d expect from a massage gun for a fraction of the usual price — not bad.

Key specifications Sizes: 1 Colours: 1 Weight: 0.77kg Amplitude: Unavailable Speed settings: 5, range unavailable Battery life: Up to 1hr 40mins Warranty: 2 years Included accessories: 4 massage heads, charger, carry case

This massage gun’s longer handle may be a bit bulky, particularly if you want a massage gun to take with you on the move, but it did help our tester to comfortably massage all muscles. As a result, it’s probably one to keep for using at home post-workout, rather than letting it dominate your gym bag.

It comes with a wide range of attachments too, is incredibly easy to use and can last for up to five hours on a single charge. So, if you’re after a faff-free massage session, it definitely gets our seal of approval.

As mentioned above, you'll also save yourself 20% and bag free shipping if you enter the code RECOVERY20 - all for being a loyal WH reader. Say we ain't good to you.

Key specifications Sizes: 1 Colours: 1 Weight: 1.1kg Amplitude: 12mm Speed settings: 4, from 1300 to 3300rpm Battery life: Up to 5 hours Warranty: 1 year Included accessories: 6 massage heads, charger, carry case

Joining the wealth of massage guns on the market is the Power Plate Pulse, promising to 'provide the ultimate recovery experience' by rejuvenating tight and sore muscles, and even "accelerate your warm-up and recovery"'.

It's a masseuse in a high-tech, vibrating gun, really. This version has four levels of varying intensity and the creds to back it up. The technology inside the gun is from the makers of the Power Plate, the OGs of whole-body vibration since 1990.

'It's simple to charge and lasted for the full week we've tried it, using it for around ten minutes a night,' says WH Contributing Writer Ally Head.' 'Plus there's a whole host of different massage fixtures to try, targeting different muscles and working different bits of your body.'

Key specifications Sizes: 1 Colours: 1 Weight: 1.2kg Amplitude: 12mm Speed settings: 4 Battery life: Up to 5 hours Warranty: 1 year Included accessories: 6 massage heads, charger

It's under £90 which makes it a humongous budget win and comes in at just 360g. That's super light. You can choose from three different attachment heads and use the gun for up to six hours from a single charge.

Key specifications Sizes: 1 Colours: 1 Weight: 360g Amplitude: 6mm Speed settings: 3 Battery life: Up to 8 hours Warranty: 3 years Included accessories: 2 massage heads, charger, carry case

Or, if you prefer something slightly smaller, try the MyoLite. It's compact, super quiet and still packs a punch on the power front. You'll get four attachable heads to adjust the type of massage you want plus up to 360 minutes of use from a full charge. Win.

Key specifications Sizes: 1 Colours: 1 Weight: 700g Amplitude: Not given Speed settings: 4 Battery life: Up to 6 hours Warranty: 2 years Included accessories: 4 massage heads, charger, carry case

Any clumsy people in the house? *Sheepishly raises own hand.* This muscle gun has an anti-drop shell to quell any worries of breaking your newest, most treasured possession. It's quiet, quick to charge and has six heads to choose from. Can't really say fairer than that, can you?

Key specifications Sizes: 1 Colours: 1 Weight: 998g Amplitude: 14mm Speed settings: 3 Battery life: Up to 5 hours Warranty: 1 year Included accessories: 4 massage heads, charger, carry case

So, you want to throw your massage gun into your gym bag? Fair dos. This mini-gun from genius wellness brand RENPHO is just the fit. Designed to smoothly slip into any rucksack or duffel, your recovery never needs to take a backseat again.

Key specifications Sizes: 1 Colours: 1 Weight: 580g Amplitude: Not given Speed settings: 4 Battery life: Up to 6 hours Warranty: N/A Included accessories: 4 massage heads, charger

At over £200, it's an investment, for sure. But, if you're someone who suffers from post-workout aches and pains, this percussive muscle gun might be just the thing to soothe you into limber DOMs-free nirvana. As the most streamlined core option (middle of the price range) in their latest Series 4 release, this is the massage gun to tackle knots, niggles and pains without breaking the bank.

Besides the ergonomic multi-grip, which means you can tackle even hard to reach spots, the new Series 4 Theraguns are quieter, with 120-minute battery life, easy to clean attachments, customisable speed ranges and an app to keep you accountable and on track with your recovery.

WH Digital Fitness Writer Morgan Fargo tested it to see what she thought. Here's her Theragun review: 'The Theragun Prime is a helluva lot quieter than its older Series 3 siblings but still packs a muscle-soothing punch. To get technical for a minute, the QX65 Motor with QuietForce Technology™ is what makes this new gun so much more ear-friendly. I'd be happy to use it at home or in a public space.'

RELATED: Theragun Have Released 4 New Massage Guns

Key specifications Sizes: 1 Colours: 1 Weight: 1kg Amplitude: 16mm Speed settings: 5 Battery life: Up to 2 hours Warranty: N/A Included accessories: 4 massage heads, charger

Take your recovery on the road with Recovapro's Lite version. It's handy, perfect gym bag size and brilliant if you prefer to workout outside and want to properly cool down after. Now on offer for £159, we suggest you snap up this 5* deal while it's still available.

How much does it weigh, you ask? A mere 700grams – that's less than the lightest of light dumbbells.

Key specifications Sizes: 1 Colours: 1 Weight: 700g Amplitude: 12mm Speed settings: 5 Battery life: Up to 3 hours Warranty: 30 days Included accessories: 4 massage heads, protective carry case, charger, leather charging mat

The Theragun Liv, the most lightweight and compact of the Theragun generation 3 family, means it’s easier to cart around.

With the lower price comes fewer features than Theragun’s pro series, but with the same power (40 percussions per second) and two attachments (a dampener ball for tender areas or near bones and a standard ball for overall use) so you can tailor your treatment.

Key specifications Sizes: 1 Colours: 1 Weight: 1.13kg Amplitude: 16mm Speed settings: 1 Battery life: 45 minutes Warranty: 14 days Included accessories: 2 massage heads, travel pouch, charger

We think this is one of the best muscle guns going. It has four hours of battery from a full charge, eight attachable heads and five speed settings. Woof. We particularly like the "thumb" attachment to really get into those pain points.

Key specifications Sizes: 1 Colours: 1 Weight: 1kg Amplitude: 14mm Speed settings: 5 Battery life: Up to 3 hours Warranty: 2 years Included accessories: 8 massage heads, charger, case, carry bag