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Where not to use a massage gun, and who should ask a doctor first
Updated
Keep a massage gun on muscle. Keep it off bone, the head and face, the front of the neck and throat, and any injury, bruise, rash or open wound. If you are pregnant, have had a blood clot, have a pacemaker or other implanted heart device, have a bleeding disorder or take blood thinners, ask your doctor before you use one. This page is general information, not medical advice.
Areas to avoid
- Bones and bony spots. Cleveland Clinic says to stick to muscles, not bones, and that dragging a gun over a bony spot causes kickback and pain.
- Head, face, throat, neck and genitals. Therabody lists direct use on these areas as a reason to ask a medical professional first.
- Skin problems. Therabody lists rashes, open wounds, blisters, bruises and inflamed tissue.
- Surgical sites and hardware. Therabody lists direct pressure over a surgical site or implanted hardware.
- Injuries and fractures. Therabody lists bone fractures and recent injury or surgery.
Conditions Therabody says to ask a medical professional about first
Therabody's safety page lists these as circumstances where the risks may outweigh the benefits. We list some of them here in plain words. Read the full page in the sources below.
- Deep vein thrombosis, or a history of embolism
- Pacemaker or implanted defibrillator (ICD)
- Bleeding disorders, and medicines that thin the blood or change sensation
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure
- Serious heart, liver or kidney disease
- Nerve conditions that cause loss of feeling, and poor circulation in the limbs
- Connective tissue disorders, and severe scoliosis or spinal deformity
It also lists pregnancy, controlled high blood pressure, osteoporosis, osteopenia, diabetes, varicose veins, numbness and recent injury as reasons for extra care, where the attachment, force or position may need to change.
Why this matters even for healthy people
The NIH's center for complementary health says the risk of harm from massage therapy appears to be low. It also notes rare reports of serious side effects, such as a blood clot, nerve injury or bone fracture, some involving vigorous deep tissue massage or people at higher risk, such as older adults. A deep 16 mm stroke is vigorous. Start gentle.
Simple rules for safe use
- Start on the lowest speed and a soft head.
- Let the gun supply the pressure. Cleveland Clinic warns that pushing down can cause damage rather than relief.
- Keep moving slowly, and keep to a couple of minutes on any one muscle group.
- Stop if it hurts, tingles or goes numb.
- If you are recovering from an injury or have a medical condition, Cleveland Clinic says to check with your healthcare team first.
What we will not claim
We do not say any gun here treats a condition or speeds recovery. Where a listing makes a claim like that, we call it a maker claim. Therabody's listing says the Theragun Prime is an FDA-registered medical device. We did not check what that registration covers, and it is not a promise of results. Cleveland Clinic's physical therapist says research has not shown these devices improve speed, power or endurance.
Once you know what to avoid, compare guns with the checker and see our shortlist.