see also:

• orthopaedics in the ED

• percussion massage muscle guns are commonly used by professional athletes and nonathletes worldwide for warm-up and physical recovery as well as by the general community to help with low back pain and other muscle pains
• massage guns work by repeatedly applying rhythmic oscillation bursts of pressure to muscle tissue in a rapid jackhammer motion, to deliver percussive or vibration therapy
• they work partly by increasing blood flows and by overriding the sensation of pain within a sore muscle (similar concept to TENS machines) and may help relax sore muscles by stimulating the GTO (Golgi Tendon Organ), a structure within a muscle that inhibits contraction.

• brief 5 minute single use can acutely increase range of motion
  • this may assist those with acute mechanical musculo-skeletal lower back pain
  • assists athletes as part of warm up and during exercise programmes
• in a clinical setting can provide an easy to use method of myofascial release that can be self-administered or can be administered by another individual
• can be useful in a rehabilitation setting due to their ability to reduce perceived pain and release tight or restricted fascia whilst simultaneously increasing range of motion
• appears to help lactic acid recovery and help prevent extent of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS)¹⁾

• may cause bruising especially in those who bruise easily or used over bony prominences
• rhabdomyolysis²⁾ from prolonged use
• potential neuropraxis if used excessively over nerves
• theoretical potential vascular complications especially if used over arteries with severe atherosclerosis
• potential to increase inflammation in inflamed tissues

• obviously should not be used over fractured bones
• areas near severe atherosclerosis
• areas where nerves are at risk
• inflammation
• face
• neck (unless used with great care at low intensity)
• pregnancy
• children
• elderly
• DVTs (theoretical risk of dislodging an embolus)