Massage gun: areas to avoid at all costs
KristyA massage gun delivers between two and three thousand percussions per minute. This is what makes it effective on a tense muscle, and it's also what makes it unsuitable for certain areas of the body.
Most people discover this by hurting themselves. Better to know beforehand.
Areas to never touch
- The spine. The muscles on either side, yes. The vertebrae themselves, never. There's nothing to relax on a bone, and the percussion is transmitted directly to the discs.
- The neck and bony nape. The trapezius muscles go low in the back, that's where you should work. Above, you enter an area where important vessels pass.
- The throat and sides of the neck. This is where the carotid arteries are located. No valid reason to bring a vibrating device near them.
- Joints. Knee, elbow, shoulder, ankle, wrist. There is no muscle mass to relax, only tendons and ligaments that don't like repeated shocks.
- The Achilles tendon. The calf just above, as much as you want. The tendon itself, no.
- The abdomen and organs. A contracted abdominal belt does not protect what is behind it.
- The skull and face. Obvious for most people, but it's still seen in some videos.
Situations when you should abstain
These are not areas but conditions, and they are just as important.
- A recent injury. Sprain, tear, contusion. Percussion increases blood flow, and therefore edema and internal bleeding. Wait for a healthcare professional's advice.
- A bruise or visible inflammation. Same logic.
- Varicose veins. The venous wall is already weakened.
- An insensitive or numb area. If you don't feel anything, you won't know when it's getting too strong.
- On a child. Growth plates are not made for this.
Ask first, in these cases
Pregnancy, blood clotting disorder, anticoagulant treatment, osteoporosis, implanted medical device such as a pacemaker, herniated disc, circulatory or neurological pathology.
I sell equipment; I am neither a physiotherapist nor a doctor. In these situations, the question should be put to a healthcare professional, not a salesperson.
The right way to use it
Four rules are enough to cover most mistakes.
- Sweep, don't press. The device slides slowly along the muscle. Leaving it in the same spot doesn't relax it faster; it irritates it.
- Don't force the pressure. The weight of the device is sufficient. Pushing on it doesn't change the depth reached.
- One to two minutes per area. Beyond that, the benefit no longer increases, but irritation does.
- Relaxed muscle. A contracted muscle receives almost nothing. Sit down, rest your leg, then massage.
What the sensation should tell you
An intense sensation on a tense area is normal. Sharp pain is not.
If you grit your teeth, if it stings, or if the area remains painful more than an hour later, it was too strong or in the wrong place. Lower the intensity, change the attachment, or stop.
A bruise after a massage session is not a sign of effectiveness. It's a sign that you've damaged something.
The model I sell and its zone-specific protocols are detailed on the FlexiRelax product page.
A question about a specific area? Write to me, I answer myself.
Kristy
