Percussive Massage May Help Speed Up Muscle Recovery After ExerciseF

A group of researchers from China explored how percussive massage compares to traditional stretching for recovery in active young men. They divided 30 college students into three groups: one did static stretching, another used a massage gun for 25 minutes, and the third group used the massage gun for 40 minutes. All participants first did a squat routine to trigger muscle soreness, then followed their assigned recovery routine. Researchers measured pain levels, leg flexibility, jump performance, and muscle activity over two days.

The results showed that the group using the massage gun for 40 minutes had the best outcomes. They jumped higher, had stronger leg force, and showed greater improvement in flexibility and pain relief compared to both the stretching group and the shorter massage session group. Their muscles also showed signs of needing less effort to perform movements, indicating better recovery.

In short, the study found that longer percussive massage sessions were more effective than stretching or shorter massages in helping the body bounce back after tough workouts. For active people looking to stay on top of their game, adding massage sessions with a massage gun could be a useful recovery tool.