I’ve suffered with achilles tendonitis for years. Too many miles and not enough stretching and strength work. So I finally decided to splash out on a Theragun elite massage gun to see if it would solve my injury troubles and help me train harder.
At around $500 USD and £400 GBP, was it a costly mistake or incredible value for money? Here’s my short-term review of the percussion massage therapy gun.
What’s in the case – unboxing
The Elite sits in the middle of the Theragun range – between the Pro and Prime. I opted for the Elite for a few reasons:
- It has a slightly more powerful motor than the entry level model.
- Prime: 30lbs, Elite: 40lbs, Pro: 60lbs
- Has an additional accessory and is more reasonably priced.
- Signifcantly cheaper than the Pro.
- Prime: $249, Elite: $349, Pro: $449 (current sale price, April 2022)
Here’s a link to the full specifications and comparison between each model on the Therabody website.
It comes in its own premium feeling carry case which makes traveling with it easy. It has a pouch for the accessories and ac power brick and a velvet like recessed compartment for the gun.
Is the Theragun Elite worth it?
The short answer is, yes. The longer answer is slightly more complex.
I was really surprised by how effective this device was at reducing pain in my calves and achilles following a run and the morning after a hard session.
There’s actually very little scientific research or conclusive research into the benefits of percussion therapy and massage on muscle recovery and performance. So if you’re looking for a peer reviewed study, you’ll be disappointed.
That had been one of the main reasons I’d held off for so long on purchasing one. But I didn’t find this was a gimmick – I noticed significant benefits from day one of use.
The long answer… I think you can get very similar benefits for a fraction of the costs, but it’s more effort. I used to us a length of wooden curtain rail and massage oil to work my legs.
The results were on par with the Theragun, but I never massaged my legs as often as I needed because oiling and cleaning my legs and getting into them became too much of a chore.
Pros:
- Powerful – 16mm of travel on each stroke helps get deep into the muscle.
- Versatile – wide range of accessories mean you can hit most areas of the body.
- Portable – this isn’t leaving my kit bag, it can travel with me.
- Durable? So far so good after a month’s daily use. But I’ll update this blog if I run into any trouble.
Cons:
- Cost – expensive compared to other devices with similar specs.
Typical day’s use for my Theragun?
I run 50 to 60 miles per week, with a mixture of track, trail and concrete surfaces. A few hard 10 mile tempo sessions would leave my in agony. Until now.
I used to struggle with painful achilles and calves first thing in the morning. If I gun my legs last thing before bed, this problem was much reduced.
But if I did feel a little sore, five minutes per leg would gradually alleviate the worst of it.
Before hitting the road or track for a session a few minutes blast would leave me noticeably more supple. The painful first few strides was also much reduced.
Following a session, I’d get straight into my legs. The lowest setting 1750 rpm with the firmest ball end would be enough to do the job and break up all that fatigue in my calf and quad.
If you want to get into some of the tougher muscles, the glutes, for example, increase the revs – up to a maximum 2400) and break out the cone accessory, and you should be able to inflict plenty of healing.
Ergonomics – Is it comfortable to use?
At first it feels like you’re handling a jigsaw cutter, but the triangular design soon starts to make sense. The top, horizontal handle is good when you’re working straight on top of your muscles, such as your quads.
But as soon as you need to get to slightly more awkward places, shoulders, back, calves, the diagonal or vertical grip comes in handy. It helps you apply just enough force without aggravating your wrist.
What about the Therabody app?
Apparently there’s an Theragun app. It doesn’t get good reviews on the app store. When I tried downloading, the email from Theragun to activate my account never arrived.
I tried getting it resent a few times, checked my junk, but no luck. I gave up. I doubt it would revolutionise my experience.
Conclusions
Would I recommend the Theragun. Yes, I think it packs enough punch with 16mm of travel to tenderise you sore muscles and leave you feeling lighter, more recovered and supple than simple stretching.
I’ve felt quicker and more recovered since using this. On the days I’ve not used it, I’ve noticed more stiffness and soreness.
It comes at a cost, but that’s worth it if you’re looking for a recovery aid which will make the next sessions a little less painful.
