A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE THERAGUN

Recently, interest in the Theragun has exploded, in large part thanks to videos of professional athletes using the device on Instagram. Intrigued, we set out to find out exactly what a Theragun is and what benefits, if any, come from incorporating a Theragun into your wellness routine.

In a nutshell, the Theragun is a percussive massage therapy device that looks a bit like a power drill and is used to treat muscle soreness and relieve pain. It dates back to 2007, when chiropractor Dr. Jason Wersland was in a serious motorcycle accident and found himself living with paralyzing muscle pain in the aftermath. Wersland wanted to avoid fusing discs or becoming addicted to medication, and set out to invent something that would soothe his extreme muscle pain.

Over years of tinkering and refining, what Wersland eventually came up with was a tool that combined vibration and pressure therapy, which he and his patients found to be extremely effective for treating atrophying muscles and severe pain. Wersland continued to develop his tool for years, and finally launched Theragun in 2016.

HOW THE THERAGUN WORKS

What makes the Theragun unique is its combination of frequency, amplitude and torque. The device can get in up to 2,400 pulses per minute. This means it touches and retracts away from the body 40 times per second, a precise calibration that distracts the mind from pain while also delivering a deep and effective treatment. And these pulses are essential, as it’s the percussive beats that allow Theraguns to go deep enough to really work on the muscles.

These days, there are legions of die-hard Theragun users who consider using the device an essential part of their daily wellness routine, which isn’t surprising, considering the results it can deliver. The percussive therapy provided by the Theragun has many benefits beyond just immediate tension relief. It can break up scar tissue, speed recovery from injury, improve range of motion, hydrate muscle tissue, decrease lactic acid, increase blood flow and decrease muscle soreness and stiffness.

“Seeing the incredible impact of Theragun on people around the world, from all walks of life, helped me realize the need for more natural solutions that really work — and how important it is to put the power to feel better back in people’s hands,” Wersand says.

HOW TO USE A THERAGUN.

1. Turn on the Theragun before placing it on your body. That way, you can adjust to your preferred power before getting started.
   
   
2. Rest the Theragun on your body. The key here is to just let it float on the surface of your muscle without any additional pressure.
   
   
3. Slowly glide the Theragun along your desired area. If you discover a knot or high-tension area, spend some extra time on that spot. You can also apply additional downward pressure to help release tension in troublesome spots.
   
   
4. Breathe, relax and let the Theragun melt away your stress. Take deep breaths to let out all that tension.
   
   
5. Don’t overdo it. Therabody recommends a minimum of 15 seconds and a maximum of two minutes per muscle group. A full-body session should not exceed 15 minutes. For best results, Dr. Wersland recommends two to three sessions per day.