Workout recovery is perhaps just as important as the workout itself. This is why it’s important to find recovery tools which work for you. And while everyone’s recovery requirements will vary, based on what you do, two of the most popular choices today are foam rollers and massage guns.
And while there’s lots of room for both tools in anyone’s recovery arsenal, you could be wondering which is best for you (as well as your wallet). While a foam roller is usually a lot cheaper than a massage gun, you can find a few more affordable massage gun options these days which might work for you as well.
However, when it comes down to functionality these two tools are pretty different and both can help you feel better and recover from exercise a lot faster than doing nothing.
What Is A Massage Gun?
Massage guns – which are also known as percussion massagers, percussive therapy as well as vibration therapy, offer a lot of the benefits of massage minus the expense or the hassle of a visit to the massage therapist.
These electric tools deliver a vigorous massage and usually come with a selection of attachments, such as balls of varying firmness as well as finger-like tips. They have different settings.
While massage guns are designed to be utilised by anyone, they’re most popular among endurance athletes such as triathletes and ultramarathoners.
What the massage gun can do:
- Deeper, intense massage owing to the high force of the gun
- Target small, hard-to-reach areas (massage guns frequently come with various attachments in order to help you to reach certain areas)
- Provide virtually instant relief from tension, aches or soreness
What it can’t do:
- Most massage guns don’t have a gentle setting, and can feel intense if you’re quite sensitive to massage
- Isn’t able to cover a large area of your body as a foam roller can
Best for:
- People who work out seriously or play a lot of sports
- People who require deep relief from tension and pain
- If you want targeted relief
What Is Foam Rolling?
Foam rolling is a self-myofascial release (SMR) method. Using a foam roller can help to relieve muscle tightness, soreness as well as inflammation in addition to increasing your joints’ range of motion.
Foam rolling can be an efficient tool to include to your warm-up or cooldown, before as well as after exercise. And the benefits of foam rolling may vary from person to person.
What a foam roller can do:
- Roll out or massage bigger areas of your body such as both of your legs at the same time
- Be gentler on tight places or knots
- Cheaper as well as easy to do anywhere
- Support flexibility, pain relief as well as overall recovery
What foam rollers can’t do:
- Give you a deep or intense massage like a massage gun (with not as much force)
- Challenging to use on small areas of the body
Best for:
- Everyday use
- Tighter budgets
- Relief from everyday muscle soreness and tension
- People who work out moderately and want some relief or support with flexibility
Contact Trifocus Fitness Academy
Want to learn more about foam rolling? If you do then you need to do our Online Foam Rolling Course. Follow this link to find out more.
