Two study participants were photographed while using each device to try to reach the 10 target areas. “These are supposed to make you feel better, so we thought it would be interesting to see whether you were adding stress to your body while using them,” Ritchey says. This study was used to generate a list of 10 body areas users might target with a massage device, so we could see-using a standard ergonomic assessment-how well devices could reach certain areas, and assess whether or not trying to use the devices would stress the body in an uncomfortable way.
To inform our expert evaluation, CR first conducted an online study of 34 massage gun users to understand which body parts users target with these devices, and to gather relevant impressions of certain devices. Research on their overall efficacy is limited, but experts have told CR that when used safely, they may help alleviate muscle pain. People use percussive massagers to help relieve pain, release tension, increase range of motion, and more. Notably, this evaluation was not meant to measure whether or not these devices are effective in a therapeutic sense.