{"id":8513,"date":"2021-10-27T02:28:20","date_gmt":"2021-10-27T09:28:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/massagegunadvice.com\/?p=8513"},"modified":"2024-02-09T05:47:53","modified_gmt":"2024-02-09T13:47:53","slug":"physical-therapist-massage-gun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/massagegunadvice.com\/physical-therapist-massage-gun\/","title":{"rendered":"Physical Therapist Massage Gun \u2013 What PTs Use On Patients?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Have you ever wondered what massage gun a physiotherapist uses<\/strong>? Suppose you have been to a physical therapist and saw them using a massage gun to help you relax or ease your discomfort. In that case, you may be interested in what device they were using \u2013 especially if the massage worked to relieve your discomfort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If this is you, or if you are a physical therapist that wants a new device to add to your arsenal, this article can help you pick one. We will point out the best physical therapist massage gun<\/strong> recommendations and discuss our reasoning behind them. We will also tell you how to pick one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Follow along!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n For Those in a Hurry<\/span><\/span><\/strong> If you cannot read through the entire post, here are our top recommendations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n We will discuss both of them and more in details down below.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n This article is written from a consumer perspective. We are not physical therapists. However, we know a lot about massage guns since we interact with them every day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For areas that need medical expertise, we consult with our experts<\/a>. For this article, we consulted with Dr. Alex Stone<\/a>, who is a licensed physio. We also scour the internet for credible sources to base our facts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our reviews cover a range of products and not just one product. We don\u2019t advertise; we give good reasons behind our picks. We also explain the differences between products so that you can make an educated choice.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n Physical therapists help patients recover from injuries (back, neck, sprains, strains, fractures, arthritis<\/a>, etc.) by monitoring their movement and managing their pain. They use a number of techniques to take care of their patients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even though PTs (as they are also called) may specialize in different areas (like orthopedics and geriatrics), the treatment methods may not vary so much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To care for patients, especially those suffering from muscle injury, PTs will use massage guns to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n All these processes might be done effectively with the use of a good massage gun<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although PTs will mix it up with manual therapy, massage guns make the job easier. That\u2019s why it\u2019s essential that the choice of a massage gun corresponds with the kind of treatment required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Theraguns and Hypervolts are likely the two brands that naturally come to mind when thinking of PT massage guns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While we think they are not necessarily the best choice (not anymore), if you are a therapist that needs a genuine and thorough massage gun, then at some point you may likely consider one of these two brands\u2019 massage guns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And it\u2019s for a good reason. Both brands<\/a> have advantages over many others:<\/p>\n\n\n\n But there are differences between what you can get from either brand \u2013 we have a comprehensive Theragun vs. Hypervolt comparison<\/a> article where we look at everything about these two brands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For now though, we\u2019ll say that Theragun has a medical touch<\/strong> to it. Having begun as a device meant to soothe pain, Dr. Jason Wersland, a chiropractic, came up with the idea after a motorcycle accident left him in pain. He needed a solution to alleviate his suffering, and that\u2019s how Theragun was conceived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the other hand, the first Hypervolt was built for a completely different reason. The first Hypervolt was made for athletes (mainly NBA players<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n It was meant to help them recover after workouts or games\u200b1,2\u200b<\/sup><\/span>. It gathered quite a reputation in its early days and found its way into PTs and Chiropractic venues as well. The earlier model is still in use even today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But there are key differences worth noting. There\u2019s more in our comparison article, but in a nutshell:<\/p>\n\n\n\n One retired PT sums up Theragun nicely with this comment on Reddit:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe amplitude of the strokes [..in Theragun] is also significantly deeper at 16 mm compared to Hypervolt\u2019s 10. As a result, the massage head penetrates the muscle fibers deeper than a vibration type massager resulting in potential musculoskeletal changes and range of motion improvements.<\/em> \u201c<\/p>\n~ u\/bigpimpinainteasy<\/a>, reddit.com<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n If you are ever caught up between whether to go for a Theragun or a Hypervolt as your preferred Physical Therapist massage gun, just remember that one offers you deep tissue massage<\/strong> while the other (especially the first Silver Hypervolt) gives you a vibrational-surface-level massage<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From observation, most PTs use all full-sized Theraguns. That includes Theragun Prime, Elite, and Pro. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But the most commonly used is Theragun Pro<\/a> because of its advantages over its counterparts. Theragun Pro is the best ranked Theragun<\/strong> and the only model that comes with the removable batteries feature. Physical therapists love this because they can use one battery while the other is charging. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Pro is also the only Theragun model with an adjustable arm<\/a> that improves its ergonomics even further. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It has the highest stall force \u2013 up to 60lbs.<\/strong> of no-stall force at the top speed gear. Stall force is the motor\u2019s ability to withstand pressure without stalling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n PRO TIP<\/span><\/span><\/strong> It is important to factor in the stall force of any device even when that device seems to have a high amplitude. Without proper stall force, the device will easily stall and may not effectively administer deep tissue massage.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Theragun Pro\u2019s 60lbs. of no-stall force can penetrate even the largest muscles and effectively massage even bigger guys (bodybuilders and weightlifters<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n And lastly, the amplitude a.k.a. stroke length, of 16mm – the highest possible. You can’t get a punchier massage than this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But Theragun Pro is also the most expensive Theragun. If your budget can\u2019t cover its hefty price<\/a>, but you still want Theragun, you can go for the cheaper Theragun Elite<\/a>. It has decent performance features as well. It doesn\u2019t have a removable battery though, but it can be very effective for personal DIY massage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n READ MORE<\/span><\/span><\/strong> You can check out our Theragun Pro vs. Elite vs. Prime vs. Mini<\/a> comparison article or read individual Theragun reviews<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For Hypervolts, the best one as a physical therapy massager would be the lastly released Hypervolt 2 Pro<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have to go with just one, you should know that both have 14mm amplitude<\/strong>. However, the new Hypervolt 2 Pro has less power. We estimated the stall force to be between 30-35lbs<\/strong> (the Hypervolt Plus has a stall force of 45lbs). But the new device has better ergonomics, which includes a redesigned thinner handle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since that first Hypervolt Silver device<\/a>, subsequent releases have all seen the amplitude increase. Even the least powerful Hypervolt 2 now has a 12mm amplitude instead of just 10mm like that original silver device.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One advantage you get with Hypervolts is the number of hits per minute. While Theraguns only rev up to 2400rpm, Hypervolts can rev up to 3200rpm<\/strong>. The two new devices (Hypervolt 2 and Pro) only rev up to 2700rpm. But even that is more than any Theragun. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Keep in mind that Theraguns have better ergonomics than Hypervolts. If you don\u2019t like the T-shape configuration, you will find them cumbersome to use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But we like the Hypervolt attachments \u2013 they are more varied than the Theragun ones. But Hypervolts are cheaper than Theraguns. They are a solid buy if you can afford them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Theraguns and Hypervolts may be the easy choice for a therapist looking for something serious, but they have flaws<\/strong>. Flaws that may mean looking elsewhere, especially when you need a personal massage gun. We discussed some of the flaws in individual reviews and comparison articles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But here are the main Cons<\/span><\/span><\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is thriving competition for these established brands. Some new companies have come into the market with exciting devices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Between 2017 and 2019, it wasn\u2019t as easy to find a quality massage gun from other brands \u2013 most were knock-offs that were poorly done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But things have changed. There are devices on the market that cost half the price of the expensive Theraguns and Hypervolts but offer so much more<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n That means that PTs can access a wider range of options than ever before. With these new companies now making percussive devices, getting a PT massage gun with a high amplitude and a high stall force is easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The below products are, in our opinion, robust alternatives to Theraguns and Hypervolts, and one of the best physical therapist massage guns available on the market right now (if not the best). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Why Trust Our Advice and Some Disclaimer<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWhy do Physical Therapists Use Massage Guns?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nTheragun and Hypervolt – Two Popular Therapist Massage Gun Brands<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nWhich Theragun and Hypervolt Models as PT Massage Guns?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nThe Cons of Hypervolt and Theragun<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nBest Therapeutic Massage Guns – Our Recommendation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\nAchedaway Pro – Most Powerful<\/h3>\n\n\n
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