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Introduction
Muscle pain is one of the most unpleasant sensations we can experience. It can stem from over-exercising, injury or chronic issues. In fact, I write this while trying to knead out an ache in my neck which magically appeared overnight. Whether your problems are annoying or even debilitating, the cost of treatments can add up quickly. Thankfully, after a medical practitioner has given you a diagnosis, there are certain at-home remedies that relieve your discomfort. These tools are most beneficial when used to provide interim pain relief between professional consultations and are not designed to replace urgent medical attention.
Trigger point therapy is an emerging field that seeks to identify the knots in your muscle and apply pressure to release these tight, sore areas. We have completed a comprehensive guide to Trigger Point Therapy if you require further information on this. It is appropriate for many body parts and is a common practice in massage treatments. To supplement your medical care, there are several electric trigger point massager products available. These are a fantastic source of at-home relief.
If you are unsure of whether trigger points are the cause of your discomfort, please consult our Comprehensive Guide to Back Pain. This goes through different areas and types of pain, and can help you to determine whether self-performed trigger point therapy is the best fit for you. It is also important to consider which of the many devices available are best suited for your desired treatment before purchasing. In this article, we have compiled a variety of electric massage products to help you find the perfect option.
Before You Buy
Every electric massager varies in size, weight and quality, making it difficult to assess which tools are the best investment and to find the right purchase for you. While each of these devices have shared design principles and functions, it is important to consider the following elements.
Mobility
As you need to be able to maneuver the massager around your body, it is important that the product is lightweight and has a long-reaching handle. Furthermore, whether it is a battery or corded model will impact how portable the device is, as well as how far you can reach while using it. The battery life and how long the massager takes to charge will also impact where you can take it and how long it can be used for in one go.
Motor Power
All of the devices we will share with you have powerful motors with adjustable speeds. However, the motor capacity varies between models, and it is important to consider how intense you need the massage treatment to be. The number of pulses/ repetitions per minute (RPM) will affect the pressure being placed upon sore areas. Furthermore, devices with higher RPM modes may also be noisier and thus limit the relaxing effect of massages.
Area of Concern
Certain models and their available attachments are designed to be used on specific areas, such as your facial muscles. Additionally, the design of other products may make it hard to reach your back muscles, especially if the massager uses a short power cord. Many of the products we are showing you have multiple attachment heads available, each designed for a different level of intensity and specific body parts. As such, you should consider the customisation options of the model you choose.
Seller Details
After finding a model that seems ideal for your at-home treatment, it is important to assess the surrounding information of the massager being sold. The price is an important factor to consider before you buy, and the devices shown in this article range from $25 to $124. Unless you have been advised to get a specific style of massager by a medical professional, it is worth considering a budget option as an introduction to the treatment style. It is also important to see what reviews have said about the quality of the product being sold to ensure that you get your money’s worth. Some manufacturers do not provide a warranty, which should be a quality consideration before you purchase.
Product Review Summary
The following models are all excellent devices that provide varying styles of massage therapy to suit your bodily and budget requirements. This table provides an overview of the models we will be reviewing, along with what they are best recommended for.
| Model | Image | Price | Best For |
| TheraFlow Handheld Deep Tissue Percussion Massager |  | $25 | Budget |
| EJG Portable Pinpoint Muscle Massage Gun |  | $65 | Athletes |
| PADO CM-07 Dual Motor Percussion + Vibration Therapy Massager |  | $125 | Highest RPM and facial micro-applicator |
| Wahl Deep Tissue Programmable Percussion Massager |  | $72 | Customisation |
| RENPHO Rechargeable Hand Held Massager |  | $39 | Value |
| FITINDEX Electric Foam Roller 4 |  | $60 | Foam roller design |
TheraFlow Handheld Deep Tissue Percussion Massager
The TheraFlow Handheld Deep Tissue Percussion Massager is a customisable and popular option for those desiring deep tissue massage from the comfort of their home. This product is designed to reduce stress and relieve aches by reaching into the sore tissue to release tension and improve wellbeing. It is the cheapest option on this list and is ideal for those seeking a good option at a budget price.
This massager comes with three different silicon attachments, making it suitable for shiatsu, acupoint and scalp massage. It achieves a deep tissue reach, which is increased through use of the Shiatsu attachment, designed to simulate the feeling of pressure point massage. The motor ranges from 2200 to 3200RPM, providing variable massage intensity depending on your area of pain and desired results. It is not recommended to use this powerful product for an extended period of time, as it may worsen soreness.
This electric corded massager provides significant reach without the stress of needing to replace batteries. The 14.8” length and ergonomic handle increase the comfort of using it, both on yourself or with a partner. Combine this with the simple and intuitive design, and you have an easy tool to relieve your muscles and stress.
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EJG Portable Pinpoint Muscle Massage Gun
Do you find that serious training leaves you with strained and sore muscles? The EJG Portable Pinpoint Muscle Massage Gun may be the perfect tool for you. It is designed to provide intense relief for athletes, helping performance and improving wellbeing. This massager provides an easy, total body treatment and is the best tool to boost athletic results.
It has 4 different head attachments and 20 different speeds, providing a customisable massage that is suitable for various body areas. Its electric motor ranges from 1440-3200 RPM, which works with the multiple head attachments to target specific trigger points and body parts.
While its gun shape may increase the difficulty of applying the massager to your own back muscles, the lightweight of 2.1 pounds allows you to hold and apply it with ease to your limbs. It may also work better to provide high intensity trigger point pressure for massaging another person. It has a mobile, cordless design, providing a rechargeable battery life of between 4-10 hours of use. Despite its fitness focus, this powerful motor is quiet, maintaining a relaxing environment for the massage recipients.
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PADO CM-07 Dual Motor Percussion + Vibration Therapy Massager
The PADO CM-07 Dual Motor Percussion + Vibration Therapy Massager provides a cordless, ergonomic design to help relieve muscle pain through massage treatment. This is one of the most powerful of our listed tools, providing you with up to 10,000 RPM, with variable speed options to match your needs. Is that enough power for you?
It is also one of the most versatile tools, suitable for any body part, from your back to your face. No matter where you need pressure to be applied, the 5 percussion attachments are available to target a wide range of bodily pains. This includes a micro-vibration attachment and special percussion setting to ease facial trigger points. The speed dial provided will allow you to customise the percussions and vibrations to best suit your desired intensity.
Despite its strong motor, this tool has a light 1.75 pound body, which allows you to apply the massager easily across your trigger points. The ergonomic handle makes self-application even easier, providing an extensive reach with its cordless design.
Specifications: 16.5 x 2.75 x 3.5 inches; 1.75 pounds
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Wahl Deep Tissue Programmable Percussion Massager
For those in need of massage customisation, the Wahl Deep Tissue Programmable Percussion Massager is the perfect choice. This massage tool uses a speed dial to control the electric motor up to 3350 RPM. Not only is the speed customisable, but this tool comes with 2 special pattern programs, providing both gentle wave and intense pulse massage options.
This Wahl massager also provides four different attachment heads, providing targeted trigger point massages for various parts of your body. Whether your pain requires wide coverage, finger like precision, or acupressure, this tool has you covered.
With a 9 foot cord length and light 1.95 pound body, this device is easy to apply to yourself and hold against your trigger points. Its ergonomic handle features simple button options, simplifying the process of switching between percussion and speeds.
Specifications: 44.96 x 7.49 x 12.5 cm; 1.95 pounds
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RENPHO Rechargeable Hand Held Massager
The RENPHO Rechargeable Hand Held Massager is one of the most popular massage tools. With almost 20,000 5 star reviews on Amazon, this massager has proved an easy remedy for many sufferers of trigger point pain. Despite its popularity, this is one of our more affordable options, providing the best value for money with its motor capacity and customisation options.
This tool is customisable, with 5 attachment heads provided to give targeted relief. These heads vary the intensity from gentle to strong, depending on the area that is targeted. As such, it is suitable for all body massages, below the head, and features customisable speed intensity options up to 3600 RPM. With three of their ball head options designed to break up muscle knots of fatigue, this is the best option to relieve regular muscle aches.
Its light 1.76 pound body and ergonomic design improve its performance during self-application. Featuring a cordless design, this massage tool is mobile and lasts for 140 minutes of charge. It has an electric charging stand that can be wall mounted for convenience and its motor shuts off after 20 minute intervals, protecting it from overheating. While this massager is unsuitable for longer massage sessions, it still offers good interval performance. Furthermore, this protects the quality of the product and extends its life expectancy.
Specifications: 38.1 x 7.62 x 11.43 cm; 1.76 pounds
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FITINDEX Electric Foam Roller 4
The FITINDEX Electric Foam Roller 4 provides an alternative design of electric trigger point massager. This device is made of soft foam rather than hard plastic, providing greater comfort to your self-massage practice. Using the roller design is better for yoga auxiliary training than the other massage tools on offer, and is a useful aid for core stabilisation practice.
You can adjust your massage with this tool, as it provides four different vibration speeds for massage customisation. This includes both high and gentle intensities, from 1400 to 2600 RPM. These options provide less targeted trigger point pressure than our other options, as the roller lacks their narrower head attachments.
Weighing only 2.1 pounds and providing a cordless design, this is a mobile addition to your yoga training. It requires 3 hours to charge and lasts for 4 hours once fully recharged. It also has a smart 10 minutes auto-off function. Unless you’re a major yoga guru, this handy roller should last the entirety of your workout session. Using the complimentary carry bag provided, you will be able to bring this massager to your next yoga class with ease.
Specifications: 15.7x 5.7inch; 2.1 pounds
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are trigger points?
Trigger points are small, hyperirritable areas that are tender and can make you feel pain or shock upon receiving pressure. These knots of muscle can be of varying intensity or origin, sometimes forming a cluster of chronic pain, referred to as myofascial pain syndrome.
What is trigger point massage therapy?
Typically performed by professional massage therapists, trigger point massages refer to the deliberate application of pressure onto active and latent pressure points to relieve pain and release the muscles. Techniques such as heat application and the controversial dry needling are often used to help these sore areas and reduce aches and tightness felt by patients.
What happens when a trigger point is released?
When a trigger point is released, the muscle knot loosens, reducing the pain experienced. For some, this is an immediate sense of relief. For others, the muscle spasms are very painful and can stay sore for a few days before the benefits are felt.
Does massaging trigger points help?
Massaging trigger points is one of the most helpful ways to relieve soreness from trigger points. As massage therapists are trained to locate and relieve painful areas in the body, this is the ideal way to isolate and treat trigger points.
What should I expect after a trigger point massage?
After trigger points have been massaged, it is common to feel some soreness and more relaxed muscles. Pain levels and speed of effectiveness vary depending on the severity of the trigger points, the health of the patient, and the intensity of the massage therapy. While some people feel relief in the first 48 hours, it is not uncommon for muscle soreness to take 3 – 10 days to be relieved.
What makes a trigger point sore?
Trigger points are sore due to being made up of strained muscle, usually around an injury, overuse, or chronic disorders. This ache may be constant, or can flare up when stress is placed on the sore muscle areas.
How can you tell if trigger points are the cause of your problem?
After ruling out other causes, trigger points can be considered the culprit of issues such as muscular aches, isolated pains, muscle knots and areas of body sensitivity. Questions such as if it is a dull ache or not, can be helpful to determine if trigger points are the cause of your pains.
Final Thoughts
The massage tools we have shown you integrate unique design features with electric power to provide the best treatment for painful trigger points. It is always best to consult with a practitioner before trying treatments, and these tools are better when used to compliment professional help.
For the best all-round treatment and value for price, we recommend the RENPHO Rechargeable Hand Held Massager. This massager provides customisable motor speed, portability, and customisable attachments to provide the best pain relief for your muscle aches.
Hopefully, with these useful tools and proper medical advice, we will all soon be living free from muscle pain!
