Ferreira (2023) The Effects of Massage Guns on Performance and Recovery A Systematic Review
This systematic review examined the acute and short‑term effects of hand‑held percussive devices (massage guns) on athletic performance and recovery. Following PRISMA guidelines, the authors searched six databases and identified 11 eligible experimental studies (281 participants, mainly young adult males) published between 2020‑2022. The included trials varied in device brand, frequency (≈20–53 Hz), treatment duration (15 s–5 min per muscle group), and application context (pre‑activity warm‑up, post‑activity recovery, or as part of a treatment protocol). Risk‑of‑bias assessments showed predominantly moderate bias. The synthesis revealed that massage‑gun interventions consistently improved short‑term range of motion, flexibility, and some recovery‑related metrics (muscle stiffness, ROM, and strength after fatigue protocols). Conversely, they did not enhance, and sometimes reduced, performance outcomes such as maximal strength, balance, acceleration, agility, and explosive power. Physiological mechanisms were discussed under neuronal, vascular, and mechanical categories, suggesting frequency‑dependent effects. Practical guidance recommends low‑frequency, longer‑duration applications for recovery and brief, high‑frequency applications for ROM, while advising against use immediately before strength or explosive activities. Adverse‑event reporting was sparse, but contraindications (e.g., recent injuries, vascular disorders, implants) were listed. The authors conclude that massage guns are useful for short‑term flexibility and recovery but lack evidence for performance enhancement, and they call for higher‑quality, longer‑term studies with detailed reporting of device parameters.
Topics
Rationale and Scope: Mapping the Emerging Landscape of Massage‑Gun Research
Introduces the historical background of percussive therapy, the surge in commercial massage‑gun use, and the knowledge gap the review aims to fill.
Methodology Blueprint: Database Searches, Inclusion Criteria, and Risk‑of‑Bias Assessment
Details the PRISMA‑guided systematic search across six databases, PICOS eligibility, study selection flow, and the use of RoB 2 and ROBINS‑I tools.
Performance Outcomes: Mixed and Often Negative Effects on Strength, Power, and Agility
Synthesizes findings that massage‑gun use did not improve, and sometimes decreased, maximal strength, explosive jumps, balance, acceleration, and agility measures.
Recovery Outcomes: Consistent Gains in ROM, Flexibility, and Stiffness Reduction
Aggregates evidence showing short‑term improvements in range of motion, muscle flexibility, and reductions in stiffness or fatigue‑related markers after massage‑gun application.
Physiological Mechanisms: Neuronal, Vascular, and Mechanical Pathways
Explores proposed mechanisms—tonic vibration reflex, blood‑flow shear stress, and tissue viscoelastic changes—highlighting frequency‑dependent effects.
Practical Recommendations: Frequency, Duration, and Timing Guidelines for Clinicians
Provides actionable dosing advice (low < 40 Hz + > 2 min for recovery; high > 40 Hz + ≤ 2 min for ROM) and cautions against pre‑strength use.
Safety Profile: Reported Adverse Events and Contra‑indications
Lists contraindications (e.g., recent fractures, vascular disorders, implants) and notes the paucity of systematic adverse‑event reporting.
Limitations and Future Directions: Gaps in Study Design and Reporting
Highlights the moderate risk of bias, short‑term focus, homogeneous young‑adult samples, and the need for detailed device parameter reporting in future trials.