2 min readAccording to Dr. Rachel Tavel, P.T., D.P.T., C.S.C.S., massage guns help stimulate muscle activation and potentially improve power when used prerun. Postrun, these tools reduce delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS).
“If a runner is pressed for time,” she says, “these devices can potentially ward off muscle soreness while also improving muscle function.”
Considering the wear and tear we subject our bodies to as runners—plus holiday stressors and coronavirus worries—a massage device, like a Theragun, can be valuable in alleviating our tense muscles.
Therabody’s Cyber Monday deals are live now, with up to $150 off the original prices. Buy one for your favorite runner—or reward yourself.
Pro
The Pro is everything you need in a massage device: an adjustable arm for hard-to-reach knots, six changeable attachments, and five speeds (from 1,750 to 2,400 percussions per minute).
Weight: 2.9 lb.
Battery Life: 75 minutes each on 2 rechargeable lithium-ion batteries; 75-minute charge time
Features: 5 speeds (app-controlled customizable speed range), adjustable arm, 6 attachments
Originally $599
Elite
According to Therabody, the Elite runs quieter than a standard electric toothbrush. It has the same intensity as the Pro, with five speeds topping off at 2,400 percussions per minute.
Weight: 2.2 lb.
Battery Life: 120 minutes; 80-minute charge time
Features: 5 speeds (app-controlled customizable speed range), 5 attachments
Originally $399
Prime
The more affordable Prime has the same speeds as the Pro and Elite, four attachments (including the area-targeted cone), and two-hour battery life—in case your body needs a half marathon time’s worth of TLC.
Weight: 2.2 lb.
Battery Life: 120 minutes; 80-minute charge time
Features: 5 speeds (app-controlled customizable speed range), 4 attachments
Originally $299
Mini
The lightweight and portable mini is ideal for runners who are on-the-go.
Weight: 1.43 lb.
Battery Life: 150 minutes; 80-minute charge time
Features: 3 speeds, compact and portable
Originally $199
Wave Roller
Therabody’s newest product, the Wave Roller, is patterned with wave-shaped grooves and has an outer layer of high-density PU foam. Like the Pro, Elite, and Prime, you can control its intensity with the Therabody app on your phone.
Weight: 3.3 lb.
Battery Life: 180 minutes
Features: 5 intensity settings (app-controlled customization), 12 inches long
Originally $149
Amanda Furrer, Editor, Running Reviews, studied journalism at NYU and writing at Emerson College. She has reviewed gear and covered other topics in the running space for almost 10 years. Since 2013, she has consecutively run the Boston Marathon. She also has a master’s degree in gastronomy from Boston University and was formerly a professional baker for two years before hanging up her apron.
