No matter how you choose to exercise, recovery is always necessary. Whether you enjoy running outdoors or following a routine in the gym, your muscles are likely to be fatigued and sore after an effective workout. Soreness and tightness can even be accentuated when you sit at a desk all day and do not have a job that keeps you moving. We would all like to be able to book a weekly massage, but unfortunately, that is not realistic for most of us. Luckily, there is a range of self-massage tools that can serve as an affordable and effective alternative!
Using recovery tools like foam rollers, massage balls, Theraguns, and other great massage guns and massage sticks can help loosen tight muscles and stiff joints. Using the right massage tool helps increase range of motion and eases muscle soreness and pain after a workout. That said, it can be difficult to know which self-massage tool to use when and where on your body. To help you maximize workout recovery, loosen your muscles, and ease your aches and pains, we’ve shared our favorite massage tools and their best uses below.
Theragun PRO
Best Massage Tool Overall
Though most self-massage tools pale in comparison to a professional massage, the aptly named Theragun PRO may be the sole exception. The Theragun PRO gives you the power, versatility, and precision of a trained masseuse with tireless hands. Compared to the Theragun Elite, the Theragun PRO is capable of producing 33% more torque, making it a great massage tool for those who like a strong massage. The shaft is also fully adjustable, so you can change the angle to precisely target every ache, whether it be in your feet, calves, quads, glutes, back, shoulders, or neck. With six attachment heads, including a super soft tip, the Theragun PRO is the uncontested winner in terms of versatility, performance, and effectiveness in the world of massage tools.
Snailax Full Body Massage Chair Pad
The Snailax Massage Chai features eight flexible acupressure rollers that fit your back and body curves, providing a relaxing deep tissue massage. The infrared heat provides a gentle warmth to help you to relax more. The massager features four acupressure nodes to provide a deep massage on the neck and shoulders. There is a detachable tab that allows you to choose between a gentle neck and back acupressure massage or a stronger acupressure massage. You can target different areas due to the 3 massage zones.
Compression and vibration massagers offer 3 levels of massage pressure and 3 levels of vibration intensity. The massage seat cushion is portable, easy to use, and can be attached to office chairs, dining chairs, reclining chairs, sofas, and sofas.
Theragun Elite
Best Massage Tool for Any Part of Your Body
The Theragun Elite is a powerful massage gun able to deliver very specific, professional-quality vibrating massage to encourage blood flow, aid tissue recovery, and ease pain. It has a proprietary, brushless QX65 motor designed to be extremely quiet yet powerful. There are five preset speed intensities, ranging from 1,750 to 2,400 PPM, with further customization in the free companion app. All of this allows you to create the exact massage experience you need! Additionally, there are five different foam attachment tips (standard ball, dampener, cone, wedge, and thumb), with each different tip designed to provide a unique massage experience.
The Theragun Elite can be used to massage any part of your body, including your back, neck, shoulders, legs, and feet. At just 2.2 pounds with a small, ergonomic design and compact travel case, the Theragun Elite is portable, sleek, and easy to travel with or store. It runs on a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, capable of powering the device for a full 120 minutes on a single charge.
Theragun Mini
Best Massage Tool for Neck and Feet
The Theragun Mini is a small but mighty massage gun. The standard ball attachment and easy maneuverability make it an especially ideal massage tool for the neck and feet — two often difficult areas to safely, easily, and effectively massage without the help of a professional masseuse or a bulky, expensive massage tool designed solely for the feet or solely for the neck. With three different speeds, 150 minutes of battery life per charge, and a whisper-quiet motor, the Theragun Mini is a high-performing, reliable, and versatile massage tool.
Snailax Cordless Hand Massager Machine
The hand massager uses pressure, vibration, and heat to massage all parts of the hand and helps to eliminate finger numbness, and joint pain, and relieve arthritis and carpal tunnel pain. This massager uses acupoint therapy to rhythmically push your hands from your wrists to your palms and fingers to stimulate your pressure points, thereby relieving pain and numbness in your hands. You can use a combination of six compression massage modes and six intensity levels for different pain levels. The handheld massager also provides soothing heat and a vibration massage.
The massager is even wireless and easy to use, with a built-in lithium-ion battery that can be charged via a provided USB cable. Extremely portable, you can enjoy a hand massage at home, at the office, or on the go.
TriggerPoint Grid Foam Roller
Best Massage Tool for Calves, Quads, Hamstrings, Back, and Shoulders
Foam rollers can improve flexibility and mobility in a muscle, fascia, or joint by decreasing muscle tension or tone and by increasing blood flow in the treated area. The TriggerPoint Grid Foam Roller is exceptionally well constructed, durable, and dense. It holds up to endless hours of myofascial release rolling, and the textured ribbing helps work through knots and adhesions in your tissue. It’s ideal for massaging your calves, quads, hamstrings, IT bands, back, and shoulders.
Body Back Buddy Elite
Best Massage Tool for Back
The Body Back Buddy Elite is a trigger point back massager with 11 numbered knobs deliberately located to address specific pain points noted in the included Trigger Point by Numbers user manual. Using the non-slip grip handles, you can press various knobs on the Body Back Buddy Elite into tight and tense back muscles, painful knots, and sore regions. The two hooks and design shape give you excellent leverage for massaging your back, and there are three different knob shapes: acorns for deep tissue work, round for gliding over larger muscles, and nubs for your lower back.
Posture Magic Massage Ball Set
Best Massage Tool for Trigger Points Anywhere in Body
The Posture Magic Massage Ball Set for Myofascial Trigger Point Release contains six massage balls to work through stiffness, trigger points, and fascial adhesions anywhere in your body. The spiky ball is great for the feet, while the lacrosse ball works wonders on tight glutes. There’s a ball for every body part and a handy exercise booklet to help guide you through the process.
Doeplex Muscle Roller Massage Stick
Best Massage Tool for Quads, IT bands, Calves, and Shins
You can use the Doeplex Muscle Roller Massage Stick to help work out knots and ease tension along your quads, IT bands, calves, and shins. The gear-shaped disks independently spin 360 degrees as you press on the handles and roll the massage stick up and down your tissue, providing a deep tissue massage and increasing blood flow.
Editors' Recommendations
- The 5 best Theragun alternatives in 2024
- Best massage gun deals: Save on Theragun, Hyperice, and more
- 12 Best Medicine Ball Exercises for a Total-Body Workout
